PETALING JAYA: The gender segregation rule involving hair salon operators in Kota Baru continues to draw flak as concerns mount that operators might suffer at least 30% losses if the Kelantan Government refuses to budge over the matter.
Malaysian Indian Hairdressing Owner Association president K. Kaviarasan has called the ruling “unfair”, saying it could ruin the livelihood of barbers and hairdressers in the state.
“These establishments have run their businesses for many years with no problem. Suddenly, the authorities decide to impose this rule, which is akin to pouring sand into their rice bowl,” he said.
Kaviarasan, a barber since 1976, said he had parents bringing their daughters of one to 12 years old to his shops around the Klang Valley for haircuts.
Indian barbers also shave the heads of devotees, both male and females, during religious occasions like Thaipusam.
Kaviarasan said he also had girls requesting for boyish haircuts, adding that neck massages are given to both male and female customers as part of their customer service.
Malaysian Hairdressing Association president Billy Lim said the operators might have to double the price of their services to cover their losses if the ruling continues.
“Alternatively, owners might have to terminate their staff, reduce salaries or make them work longer hours just to keep the business afloat.
Lim, who runs the MTH Salon, said the hairdressing industry had struggled hard to be a noble profession and such a ruling would make it hard for the industry to thrive.
However, Kelantan Chinese Assembly Hall president Oie Poh Choon is confident the matter would be resolved within a couple of weeks.
“We met the state exco yesterday (Thursday) to forward our suggestions and they are willing to accept it,” he said.
Kelantan MCA chief Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the move was proof that PAS is slowly implementing hudud for non-Muslims.
“This is a hair-raising situation. It shows PAS really implements what they say they will do. And it clearly indicates that no matter how the Opposition tries to reassure us that hudud will not be implemented on non-Muslims, their words have no impact,” she added, criticising DAP for not stopping PAS.
Dr Ng, who is also MCA vice-president and Tourism Minister, said the ruling would tarnish the country’s image and wrongly portray Malaysia as an extreme nation.
– THE STAR
