'No ban on Muslims working at outlets selling alcohol'
SHAH ALAM: The so-called ban on Muslims working in establishments in Selangor that serve alcohol is merely a guideline for now.
"No by-laws were enacted. It was only a guideline on the business licences aimed at reducing the number of Muslim workers at premises selling alcohol," Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said.
Speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting with heads of local authorities in the state to discuss the issue, he said the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) had only issued a guideline and not a ban for Muslims from working in outlets selling alcohol.
On Sunday, state executive councillor Ronnie Liu came under fire from Muslim non-governmental organisations for ordering the council to rescind the guideline. They said Liu was "interfering in Islamic administration affairs".
Khalid said any by-law proposed by local councils would be subjected to a review by the state government before it could be implemented.
On the banning of Muslims from working in outlets that sell alcohol, he said the issue will be studied thoroughly by the state government.
"The welfare of those Muslims who may lose their jobs must be taken into account as well as the sensitivity of the people in the state."
Khalid said there are 170 premises that had been issued licenses to sell alcohol in Subang Jaya and only 13 were being monitored for employing 140 Muslim workers.
To another question, he said the Selangor Islamic Religious Department had the authority to enforce a ban on individual Muslim workers, but not to the premises and its owners.
"We respect the Syariah Criminal Enactment that aims to help Muslims in looking for halal source of income, but at the same time, as a caring and fair government, we have to give sufficient time to all those affected including business owners and their workers."
The Selangor government announced last Friday that it would set up a special fund to help Muslim workers who are forced to resign from entertainment outlets serving alcohol to ensure smooth implementation of the syariah enactment.
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