‘Lift the ban on Muslims working in alcohol-serving outlets’
[2]KUALA LUMPUR: The Selangor government has asked the Subang Jaya Municipal Council to reverse its decision banning alcohol-serving establishments from employing Muslims.
Senior State exco member Teresa Kok told The Malay Mail this morning the State was not happy with the decision.
“I spoke to the council president to ask for a lifting of the ban. Yes, we are not happy with it,” said Kok, who is in charge of the State’s investment, industrialisation and trade committee.
Controversy surrounds the ruling, said to be an additional condition added to the new licensing guidelines last year.
According to reports, the rationale behind the ban was due to it contravening Section 18(2) of the Syariah Criminal Enactment of Selangor.
A Malaysiakini report, quoting the council’s public relations department, said the condition was tabled last year as part of the council’s “self-initiated improvements”.
The report said businesses that failed to abide by the condition would be subjected to a compound or withdrawal of their business licence.
The new guideline had drawn protests from the entertainment sector in Subang, whose workforce comprised largely of Muslims.
Dear Teresa Kok,
Kudos to you for speaking for the rights of Malays and non-Malays.
Don’t allow some narrow minded officer in the Muncipal Coucils in to curb the peoples freedom to earn a living by working in any establishment of their choise.
The PAKATAN Govt is doing a fantastic job in Selangor . Keep it up. The people of selangor and citizens of Malaysia are always behind you . I hope PAKATAN will wipe out BN in the next GE. My prayers are with PAKATAN for a resounding victory.
Best Wishes
Sebastian
I expect all these to come.. Mysia is geting more regressive than progressive Muslim State……. very short sighted Council policy n ruling…. is nasi periuk orang ramai,…
Dear Ms Theresa Kok,
Why get involved in such issue. Firstly, the Enactment is inadequate enough for Muslim. There are Muslims working in the brewery in Selangor! To begin with we have clear religious injunctions concerning intoxicating beverages – to carry, to make, to trade and to consume are all ‘haram’. Then, there is the precedence the Federal Constitution will have over any law that is in conflict with it (including those prescribed by the syariah) – this being contrary to the religion of Islam.
Don’t you want Muslims in your constituency to be good Muslims? Good Muslims are those who respects the rights of others i.e. very unlike some of those in the ruling party who do not even respect the rights of Muslims!
I am surprised why your statement did not “draw flak” from your Islamic alliance. Perhaps it is the parties’ policy. I have always been sympathiser of that party but not yet a member!
Abdul Rahim
Religion makes us think and act like a human being not animals.
Religion better our life not making it worse;
Religion understands the predicament of human being living in a world that is filled with many imperfections; and as such requires human to practice tolerasi;
To avoid everything that the religion thought us unconditionally is not possible unless we are in a perfect kingdom. So do not condemn those who sweat to keep their family happy and alive.
In fact we should be thankful for those who scarify themselves to give us convenience and comfort.
Just ask yourself this:
Who will collect our garbage if we set and enforce rule that a Muslim/Hindu/Buddhist/Taoist garbage collection man must not handle those garbage that the religion prohibit either directly or indirectly!