KUANTAN: Pahang could emerge as the second state after Terengganu to introduce syariah-compliant attire for athletes.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the state government will be looking into the finer details on the matter before implementing the syariah-compliant dress code for both men and women athletes.
He said there would be no rush into implementing the move as State Religious Affairs Committee chairman (Datuk Seri Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad) will be responsible to raise the matter to be discussed during the state executive council meeting.
“We (state government) have taken the first step to implement it by conducting a state-level seminar on syariah-compliant attire for athletes here today and the resolutions were presented to me. So we are making the necessary efforts and maybe it could be made compulsory for one or two sports but let’s wait and see.
“Terengganu has implemented it and I believe this is a good move as athletes can continue to participate and excel in sports by wearing syariah-compliant attires. I now leave it to the State Fatwa Council, state mufti and other agencies to discuss on the right syariah-compliant attire,” he said after closing the seminar on syariah-compliant attire for athletes at Kolej Universiti Islam Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah here today.
Earlier in his speech, Wan Rosdy said the decision on syariah-compliant attire will have to be studied closely and receive feedback from various quarters including the sports associations, academicians, syariah experts, the state mufti and sports apparel companies.
“Suggestions on implementing the syariah-compliant sport attires for sportsmen and sportswomen will certainly have its own challenges. The challenge could be from the athletes themselves, sports associations, or even sports enthusiast themselves.
“However, adhering syariah-compliant attires is not to meet human requirements but it is part of the instruction and command from Allah (God) that has to be obeyed. The progress to introduce syariah-compliant dress code for athletes in the country is seen as positive. For example, Terengganu has established guidelines for the use of such attires,” he said.
He said the Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) has enforced a syariah-compliant wear to all players since it hosted the Sepak Takraw League (STL) in November 2018 and the move was well-received by the players, including non-Muslim players from Thailand.
The syariah dress code resolution, presented by State Youth and Sports Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Hussain to Wan Rosdy, emphasised on five main aspects namely the objective, concept, definition, current reality and sports.