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KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs: Come October 1st, the Municipal Council of Kota Bharu (Majlis Perbandaran Kota Bharu ["MPKB"]) will be officially declared an Islamic City (Bandar Raya Islam), a reliable source told the Web Reporter over the phone yesterday.

While this declaration is not about elevating the status of MPKB to a City Council pursuant to the Local Government Act 1976, it remains to be seen how this will affect the people of Kota Bharu, both Muslims and the non-Muslims alike. According to MPKB's website, the idea of making Kota Bahru an Islamic City was first mooted by the Kelantan Chief Minister, Tuan Guru Dato' Hj. Nik Ab. Aziz b. Nik Mat at the MPKB Councillors' Swearing-In Ceremony on 3 January 2000, in line with the "Membanguan Bersama Islam" policy embraced by the Kelantan State Government.

What is even more interesting is that the website seemed to imply that this step was taken because it is impossible for MPKB to meet the criteria imposed by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government before MPKB can qualify for the status of a City Council as its annual income is well below RM80 million. The website said: "For this reason, the proposal is to change the name or to confer the title of City on Kota Bahru as an Islamic city. It follows the use of the name of Majlis Perbandran Kota Bahru is still being retained and its official name is now Majlis Perbandaran Kota Bharu Bandar Raya Islam." If so, such a declaration may well run foul of the Local Government Act 1976.

The website added that the "Membanguan Bersama Islam" policy "has to be moulded and introduced in every aspect of the administration and management of the Council. In addition to implementing an Islamic system of administration, MPKB ought to plan the city development in line with the requirements of Islam and provide an environment to encourage the city folks to lead an Islamic way of life whether from the spiritual aspect (beribadat), community or economical."

When approached, the Kelantan State Bar Representative, Indran Rajalingam said: "We do not know what the repercussions will be to women and transvestites here. At the moment, the MPKB are fining women who work in public without wearing a tudung, and cinemas, snooker centres and karaoke outlets are also illegal here."

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Gender Issues & Equal Opportunities Committee of the Bar Council, Petra Oon said if implementing this declaration results in the infringement of the constitutional rights of Kota Bahru residents, her committee stands prepared, if directed by the Bar Council,  to intervene in the public interest to safeguard the rights of these residents.

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