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<h2>A small water park in Kedah is attracting attention on social media due to its policy exclusively catering to Muslim families, which restricts access for non-Muslim patrons</h2>
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<p><p>The water park, <b>Berangan Aqua Park</b>, is located in Kampung Kelang Makau and is about a 20-minute drive from the city of Sungai Petani.</p>
<p>According to <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.google.com.my/travel/entity/key/ChkIrJC5hoWsi45PGg0vZy8xMXA1c3Bkd24xEAQ/reviews?utm_campaign=sharing&amp;utm_medium=link&amp;utm_source=htls&amp;ts=CAEaBAoCGgAqBAoAGgA&amp;ved=0CAAQ5JsGahcKEwiIvrGG7JWEAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAw">Google Reviews</a>, it is a simple park with only one big knee-deep pool with some water features, and a single water slide for young children.</p>
<p>The entrance fee is RM9 for adults and children, and free for children below three years old.</p>
<p>The <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/02/1009422/rural-kedah-waterpark-makes-splash-catering-communitys-sensitivities">New Straits Times</a> reported that the water park can only accommodate up to 250 patrons at a time.</p>
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<h2>While the water park has been open since 2021, it recently attracted criticism after social media users discovered that the park was openly promoting itself as &#8220;Muslim-only&#8221;</h2>
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<p><p>In an interview with the <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/02/1009422/rural-kedah-waterpark-makes-splash-catering-communitys-sensitivities">New Straits Times</a>, <b></b><b>Berangan Aqua Park manager Mohd Fikri Mohd Fadzil confirmed that the park only admits Muslim patrons </b>and that it caters mostly to Muslim families with young children.<b></b></p>
<p>&#8220;We are not here to compete with big-time players. We are offering an option for families looking for a cheaper alternative to spend time with their young children,&#8221; said Fikri.</p>
<p>&#8220;When we designed the business model, the company owner&#8217;s priority was to make sure that it suited the surroundings, which have about 300 Malay households.</p>
<p>&#8220;We also have Islamic religious and tahfiz schools operating in Permatang Berangan, so we had to take that into consideration,&#8221; he explained.</p>
<p>He said the company also decided to become Muslim-only to prevent visitors from wearing swimming attire that went against the local community&#8217;s sentiments.</p>
<p>&#8220;Our priority is to develop a sustainable business model that is suitable for the close-knit Malay-Muslim community. We have explained this to non-Muslims visitors and most of them understood our stand,&#8221; he added.</p>
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<h2>However, Fikri said Berangan Aqua Park is open to all visitors regardless of race and religion under group bookings</h2>
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<p><p>&#8220;We welcome group bookings by patrons of different races, either as a corporate organisation, association, resident association, or Rukun Tetangga.</p>
<p>&#8220;In fact, we have hosted group events made up of multi-ethnic participants. It is easier to manage people in groups compared to walk-in patrons,&#8221; he explained.</p>
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<h2>Despite the justification, many social users opined that the move to restrict access to Muslims alone is discriminatory</h2>
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<p>&#8220;This is religious apartheid. It shouldn&#8217;t be allowed to be practised in Malaysia,&#8221; said another X user.</p>
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<p>Civil society organisation Pusat KOMAS condemned the park&#8217;s decision to restrict the park to Muslims, saying that its reason for doing so is &#8220;backward and racist&#8221;.</p>
<p>&#8220;A business entity that is operated and promoted as a tourism attraction should not be opened to a singular race only,&#8221; it said.</p>
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<p>Meanwhile, another netizen said the park operator should include a &#8216;no bikini&#8217; disclaimer on its website if it was concerned about inappropriate swim attire.</p>
<p>&#8220;&#8216;Muslim-only&#8217; for a recreational water park is discriminatory,&#8221; they said.</p>
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<h2>However, there were many others who defended the water park&#8217;s decision to stay Muslim-only as it is located in a small community</h2>
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<p>&#8220;For non-Muslims, you have better options. Visit the nearby ESCAPE Penang or Bertam Water Park. They are bigger and offer a variety of water slides.</p>
<p>&#8220;As for Berangan Aqua Park, it only caters to a small community. Just think of it as a kampung water park, okay?&#8221; suggested a Facebook user.</p>
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<p>Meanwhile, another said, &#8220;You guys are only concerned about your rights, but I&#8217;m a Muslim girl who finds it difficult to enter many hotel swimming pools because we don&#8217;t wear [the usual] swimming attire.</p>
<p>&#8220;There are plenty of water parks you can go. This one caters to a rural area and you guys want to make noise&#8230; We live in a multicultural and multi-religious country, let&#8217;s respect each other.&#8221;</p>
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<p>&#8220;All this fuss about nothing. It&#8217;s the business owner&#8217;s prerogative. He&#8217;s catering to the majority and I hope they succeed,&#8221; opined another.</p>
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<h2>Last year, a Malaysian student questioned whether an afterparty organised by the Malaysian Society of the University of Nottingham at a nightclub was deemed inclusive:</h2>
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<p>&#8220;Clubbing, drinking, and partying have never been a part of the Malaysian culture,&#8221; claimed the student.</p>
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Rural Water Park In Kedah With 'Muslim-Only' Access Sparks Debate

Rural Water Park In Kedah With ‘Muslim-Only’ Access Sparks Debate

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<h2>In response to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad&#8217;s recent [controversial claims] (https://says.com/my/news/mahathir-claims-the-non-malays-are-not-completely-loyal-to-the-country), former UMNO information chief Shahril Hamdan asserted that the loyalty of non-Malays to the country should not hinge on proficiency in the national language</h2>
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<p><p>He made this statement during a recent episode of the <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX1ZxRjm3eE&amp;t=2500s">Keluar Sekejap podcast</a>, which he co-hosts with former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin.</p>
<p>In the episode, which was uploaded on YouTube on 15 January, Shahril disagreed with Mahathir&#8217;s assertion that Malaysian Chinese and Indians are &#8220;not completely loyal&#8221; to the country because they have not assimilated into Malay culture.﻿</p>
<p>Shahril argued that the loyalty of the non-Malays towards the country should not be questioned based on language or cultural practices.</p>
<p>&#8220;Just because they are not Malays and are not practising the Malay culture or don&#8217;t speak in Malay, it doesn&#8217;t make them any less Malaysian,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>&#8220;I am disappointed. I think he should have not said such a hurtful statement,&#8221; he added.</p>
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<h2>Shahril also said that it is impractical to demand non-Malays to become Malays</h2>
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<p><p>He said that there is a component in the constitution that defines Malays as Muslim. Considering the context of the Malaysian constitution, Shahril said it is not feasible to demand non-Malays to become Malays.</p>
<p>&#8220;Unless you force them to convert to Islam, which is not Islamic to begin with,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>Shahril then highlighted the contradiction in such expectations and advocated for acknowledging and appreciating the integration model in Malaysia, which also holds its own merits.</p>
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<h2>Following that, KJ also emphasised the importance of celebrating the integration system and not forcing other races to adhere to the dominant culture of the country</h2>
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<p>Khairy mentioned that during a podcast where Mahathir suggested that the <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://says.com/my/news/dr-m-wants-assimilation-of-non-malays-to-have-bangsa-malaysia">Malaysian Indians and Chinese should assimilate into Malay culture</a>, he and Shahril attempted to counter Mahathir&#8217;s ideology by celebrating integration rather than imposing assimilation.</p>
<p>He stated that questioning loyalty based on ethnicity is unreasonable and unfair, as Malaysians, regardless of their background, have proven their loyalty over decades as a nation.</p>
<p>Khairy also expressed his opinion that regardless of being Malay or not, Malaysians have a shared responsibility to dignify the national language, Malay, as the common language.</p>
<p>He emphasised the importance of Malaysians being fluent in the national language to prevent others from using the argument that a lack of fluency in Malay implies disloyalty to the country.</p>
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<h2>Mahathir made the claims during an interview with a Chennai-based news channel last week:</h2>
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"Speaking Malay Doesn't Define Loyalty" — Shahril Disputes Tun M's Claim On Non-Malays

“Speaking Malay Doesn’t Define Loyalty” — Shahril Disputes Tun M’s Claim On Non-Malays

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<h2>Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has claimed that the Chinese and Indians in Malaysia are &#8220;not completely loyal&#8221; to the country</h2>
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<p>Mahathir said this during a recent interview with Chennai-based news channel <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XXxRy0XCdI">Thanthi TV</a>, with the 30-minute segment uploaded to YouTube on 13 January.</p>
<p>Speaking to interview host Hariharan SA, who posed the former premier questions on his recent controversial comments on the country&#8217;s ethnic minorities, Mahathir insinuated the Chinese and Indians in Malaysia lack loyalty to the country as they still identify strongly with their respective countries of origin.</p>
<p>Mahathir also claimed that both communities often do not speak the local language, have their own schools, and form political parties based on their ethnic backgrounds rather than forming a unified Malaysian party.</p>
<p>In response, the host argued that, while culturally, individuals from these communities may maintain ties with their respective countries of origin, <b>on a national level, they identify as Malaysians.</b></p>
<p>&#8220;Why should they be ashamed of their roots? Why should they forget their roots?&#8221; Hariharan asked.</p>
<p>Mahathir said for them to truly be Malaysians, they must prioritise their Malaysian identity over their &#8220;status as immigrants from other countries&#8221;.</p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XXxRy0XCdI" rel="noopener">Thanthi TV (YouTube)</a></small>
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<h2>Mahathir also asserted that non-Malays should assimilate into the Malay culture if they wish to identify as Malaysians</h2>
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<p>He argued that the constitution designates Malaysia as a Malay country, and therefore, non-Malays should adopt the culture and traditions of the nation rather than adhering to their own origins or practices. </p>
<p>The host then inquired whether Mahathir expected Malaysian Indians and Chinese to fully assimilate by abandoning their religions and practices to emulate Malays.</p>
<p>In response, Mahathir affirmed that assimilation was indeed his expectation. He also gave examples of individuals of Indian, Arab, and European origin who, according to him, have become fully Malay by adopting the language, culture, and traditions of the Malays.</p>
<p>However, the host pointed out that the constitution guarantees the right to practice other religions in peace and harmony, and forbids discrimination based on religion, descent, place of birth, or gender.</p>
<p>&#8220;Are you not discriminating and going against the constitution by making these statements?&#8221; asked the host.</p>
<p>Mahathir defended his stance by asserting, &#8220;If one claims to belong to this country, they must identify themselves with the indigenous people.&#8221;</p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XXxRy0XCdI" rel="noopener">Thanthi TV (YouTube)</a></small>
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<h2>Subsequently, when he was asked to convey a message to the Indian community in Malaysia, he stated, &#8220;Forget about India and consider yourselves as Malaysians&#8221;</h2>
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<p>&#8220;All of them do [consider themselves as Malaysians], don&#8217;t you think so?&#8221; inquired Hariharan.</p>
<p>&#8220;No. Some of them are good Malaysians as they speak only Malay and practice Malay customs and traditions. So, they are accepted,&#8221; responded Mahathir.</p>
<p>Following that, Hariharan brought up Ananda Krishnan, a Malaysian businessman, who contributed to Malaysia but does not identify as Malay.</p>
<p>&#8220;He has not become Malay; he is a Malaysian and also Indian,&#8221; said Hariharan.</p>
<p>However, Mahathir argued that individuals like Ananda Krishnan have been compensated for their contributions, as they have become wealthy in Malaysia. He asserted that Malaysia provides such opportunities.</p>
<p>The host then questioned Mahathir, who seemed to suggest&nbsp;a perception of two classes of citizens in Malaysia — Malays and another class that is given compensation. He asked if this was the right way to treat citizens.</p>
<p>Mahathir defended his stance, stating, &#8220;As long as they don&#8217;t claim this as their country. If they want to, they have to behave like Malaysians and be 100% Malaysians.&#8221;</p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://theedgemalaysia.com/article/dr-mahathir-still-undergoing-treatment-ijn-allowed-go-home-daily" rel="noopener">Reuters/The Edge</a></small>
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<h2>In response to Mahathir&#8217;s assertion, many Malaysians expressed disagreement and refuted his claim in the comment section</h2>
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<p>&#8220;I used to respect him. This interview clearly shows he is being senile. We Malaysian Indians are proud Malaysians [and] at that same time, proud of our roots. He is mad, asking the Hindus to convert to Malay,&#8221; commented one user.</p>
<p>&#8220;The ex-Malaysian PM (couldn&#8217;t even keep his eyes open). He is a disgrace. Excellent questioning by the interviewer from Thanthi TV. &nbsp;I hope the best for him,&#8221; wrote another.</p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XXxRy0XCdI" rel="noopener">Thanthi TV (YouTube)</a></small>
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<p><p>Another user said, &#8220;Don&#8217;t have to practise Malay culture to be Malaysian. I (have been living) overseas for almost 30 years.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&#8220;When we Malaysians meet up, especially Chinese and Indians, we speak in Malay. I wonder how Mahathir can understand our situation. Furthermore, we cook nasi lemak and rendang&#8221;.</p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XXxRy0XCdI" rel="noopener">Thanthi TV (YouTube)</a></small>
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<h2>Watch the interview here:</h2>
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"Disgrace" — M'sians Refute Mahathir's Claim That Non-Malays Are Not Loyal To Country