Wanna Book Couple Seats For Date Night? Bring Your Marriage Cert As Proof
"Please may I see your marriage cert before you purchase a couple seat?" said the box office attendant.
By Rohini Rajaratnam — 10 Aug 2015, 11:24 AM
Ridhuan Tee: Buddha would have agreed to couple seat ban
Controversial columnist Ridhuan Tee Abdullah has put in his two-sen’s worth about Perak’s move to prevent unmarried cinema goers from occupying couple seats, claiming that many were aware of the “dark and romantic” situation of a cinema.
“That is the time the hands will wander, be it friendly touching or groping. What more during a romantic film or a scary one,” he wrote today.
therakyatpost.com
As a Perakian, Tee said he was frustrated the ultra kiasu — a term coined by Tee to describe either DAP politicians, Chinese or those he deemed were against Islam — were protesting such “good practices". Such matters, he argued, did not require the public opinion and should just be enforced.
“There is no need to fear. Even though it would be slammed by the ultra kiasu who want the authorities to focus on more important matters such as efficient service, cleanliness and others.”
Tee said there was no point for a “tip-top” environment if humans behaved like animals. He went on to claim that if Buddha and other religious figures were still alive, they would have agreed to this ruling.
22 JULY: Couple seats that allow two people to cosy up together as they take in a movie has been reserved especially for married couples, leaving those on dates with their partners to sit elsewhere but only if they’re Muslims
Lotus Five Star Cinemas (LFS) which boasts 12 couple seats and seven theatre halls, has put on display a notice barring unmarried couples from occupying the couple seats at the theatres around Seri Iskandar, Perak.
The display reads: “Harap Maklum. Pasangan yang bukan mahram TIDAK DIBENARKAN untuk duduk di “Couple Seat”.
Translated, the message reads: “Please note. Unwed couples ARE NOT ALLOWED to occupy the “Couple Seat”.
According to Seri Iskandar District Council member, Khairul Shahril Mohamed, the condition set by the council had already been enforced back in mid-2014 (a year ago)
Before approving the ruling, a survey had been carried out by council members with assistance from the Perak Islamic Department (JAIP) to gather public opinion and analyse the operations of various cinemas in Kedah and Kelantan.
"The management of LFS have been entrusted with the responsibility to ensure that cinema-goers adhere to the ruling covering all ticket purchases including online purchases to verify their marital status first.
"JAIP has also instructed the cinema management to ensure sufficient lighting fixtures are in place for cinema patrons," he stated.
malaysiandigest.com
The ruling was put in place when the cinema was set up as the local community had expressed some objections to its operation. It was also to curb couples "beromen-ing" in the theatres.
“The cinemas themselves are a vice that is detrimental to the faith of Muslims, what more sitting at couple seats that encourage others to commit vice in the cinemas,” said Perak mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria.
"Authorities should reconsider awarding licenses as people are there not to watch movies, but to ‘beromen’. We spend so much money for preaching, but our own side is encouraging vice,” he added, using the Malay slang that roughly means “hanky panky”, but which is also used to mean “having sex”.
Harussani also urged religious enforcers to nab unmarried couples whenever they see any, and not just in cinemas.
themalaymailonline.com
A fine will be imposed on the cinema operators and even the possibility of having its licence revoked if non-married Muslim couples are found patronising the couple seats
"Those found flouting the ruling will also be directed to attend counselling," explained Khairul Shahril, who is also Parit UMNO Youth Head.
He also pointed out that JAIP can also carry out unannounced raids on the premises.
"So far, there have been no reports of any offences committed and no report of anyone being caught for going against the ruling," he observed.
Apparently, LFS cinema in Seri Iskandar, Perak is not the first to have such a ruling, another in Segamat has already been practicing it since May this year
Understandably, many young adults have come out to express their rage over the matter
One Farah Atikah Zulkepli had a different take on it and said prohibiting an unmarried Muslim couple from sitting on the Couple Seats would not help curb immoral acts because if a couple wanted to indulge in such things, they would do it no matter where they sat especially since the cinema is plunged into darkness when the movie is playing.
wordpress.com
You probably didn't know but LFS cinema operated the oldest cinema in Malaysia, the Coliseum Theatre
It is also considered one of the largest cinema chains in this country with over 25 outlets and 108 screens in both Peninsular and East Malaysia. LFS cinema, a chain owned by the Lotus Group is famously known as Indian Cinema or Bollywood Cinema among locals due to showing mostly Kollywood and Bollywood movies. They are also considered one of the biggest Indian movie distributors in Malaysia.