KUALA LUMPUR – PKR lawmaker Lee Chean Chung has slammed Terengganu Amanah Youth chief Zamir Ghazali over the latter’s “insane” call for the state government to apply shariah-compliant attire guidelines to male and female athletes of various sports.
Lee also took aim at Terengganu PAS executive councillor (Youth, Sport and Non-Governmental Organisation Development) Hishamuddin Abdul Karim, who had previously raised the issue of Muslim athletes’ attire in the state’s legislative assembly.
“(Hishamuddin) said that Terengganu will not participate in women’s gymnastics as the sport requires athletes to wear tight clothes that show off their body shape.
“This decision is outrageous, conservative, and thoughtless. Sportswear is for competing effectively and comfortably; it should not be subject to narrow religious definitions,” Lee said in a Facebook post today.
He added that if one were to consider Hishamuddin’s decision “extreme”, the proposal by Zamir, who recommended tightening dress code regulations for other sports as well as male athletes, is “madness”.
“This is not the stance of Pakatan Harapan, nor is it the basis of PKR’s struggle,” Lee added.
Besides that, Lee also expressed concern over the future of non-Muslims in Terengganu and young athletes who have dedicated their time to training for such sports.
“This decision has impacted youths who have been training for years and parents who encouraged their children to pursue their dreams as athletes. How do parents explain to their children that they have been barred from competing?
“What will happen to the non-Muslim minority in Terengganu?” he questioned.
On Wednesday, Hishamuddin was reported as saying that the state government remains firm in its decision to bar women athletes from gymnastics, claiming that while the administration has no qualms with the sport, allowing female athletes to participate in it would be “inappropriate”.
According to him, one of the established guidelines is that Muslim athletes should dress according to Islamic law, covering their “aurat”, dressing modestly, and wearing appropriate attire for the sport they are involved in.
“For non-Muslim athletes, it is recommended that they dress modestly, avoiding tight, short, or revealing outfits,” he said at the state assembly meeting.
Zamir had subsequently supported the decision, adding that the call should be extended to male athletes to bar them from wearing shorts that do not cover their aurat. – October 7, 2023