Don’t make an issue out of man slapped with notice for wearing shorts, say Malaysian religious authorities
Religious affairs group calls for the case not to be manipulated to cause conflict

By Sharifah Mahsinah Abdullah
The Kelantan Islamic Affairs Religious Department in Malaysia has urged all quarters to stop making an issue out of the recent case where a man was asked to attend counselling for wearing shorts in public.
Its director Datuk Che Mohd Rahim Jusoh said the ruling, which was implemented since 1985, was more about encouraging Muslims to dress properly and to create awareness among teenagers on the need to observe their ‘aurat’.
“This ruling, which was enforced since the time of Barisan Nasional’s rule, applies only to Muslims. Non-Muslims need not worry about it.
“Therefore, I would like to call on certain parties not to turn the matter into a big issue or try to create conflict among Muslims and non-Muslims in Kelantan,” he told reporters after meeting with a group of Pas Supporters Congress (DHPP) at his office today.
DHPP was represented by the state’s chairman Lim Guan Seng.