The Sun
by Meena L. Ramadas
by Meena L. Ramadas
SHAH ALAM (Jan 17, 2011): The Selangor government will study if local councils have the jurisdiction to enforce the Syariah Criminal Enactment forbidding Muslims from serving alcohol at entertainment outlets via guidelines or by-laws.
Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said today that while the study is conducted, operators of entertainment outlets who have employed Muslims will be able to renew their business licences.
"After the study is conducted and discussed, we will make a decision on whether local councils can implement such a requirement," he said after meeting the local council' heads.
"We cannot have an action that will have a negative effect on non-Muslims in our effort to ensure Muslims abide by the Syariah law but at the same time we also want to reduce the number of Muslims working at these premises," he added.
Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said today that while the study is conducted, operators of entertainment outlets who have employed Muslims will be able to renew their business licences.
"After the study is conducted and discussed, we will make a decision on whether local councils can implement such a requirement," he said after meeting the local council' heads.
"We cannot have an action that will have a negative effect on non-Muslims in our effort to ensure Muslims abide by the Syariah law but at the same time we also want to reduce the number of Muslims working at these premises," he added.
Last Wednesday, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) caused an uproar when it introduced a licensing guideline banning establishments serving alcohol from hiring Muslims.
It was reported that the additional condition was included in guidelines last year as part of its "self-initiated improvements", because the employment of Muslim workers is deemed to contravene Section 18(2) of the Syariah Criminal Enactment of Selangor.
However, the state government reversed the ban last Thursday. Executive councillor for local government Ronnie Liu said MPSJ had not consulted the state.
Khalid said currently, the Selangor Department of Islamic Affairs (JAIS) has the jurisdiction to take action against Muslim workers who serve alcohol at entertainment outlets.
"So, if JAIS needs help in enforcement, it can ask the local councils for help," he said.
He also said the study will focus on the effects of having such a requirement on the livelihoods of Muslims.
He said any requirement involving the Syariah enactment to be implemented by local councils under its by-laws or guidelines will need to be discussed and approved by the state government due to the sensitivity of the matter.
He said in the meantime, the state government will continue to engage with the Selangor Zakat Board on the establishment of a fund to help Muslims who intend to leave their jobs at these entertainment outlets.
He said that according to MPSJ president Datuk Adnan Md Ikshan, out of 170 entertainment outlets in Subang Jaya, only 13 have not agreed to the licensing guideline requirement which forbids employers of entertainment outlets from hiring Muslims.
Abdul Khalid said the 13 premises, which will be monitored, employed about 140 Muslims but the number who served alcohol was not specified.
He also said if the requirement to ensure employers of entertainment outlets did not hire Muslims was found to be feasible, it will be extended to all local councils.
This confirms theSun front page report today which said that the Subang Jaya municipality was a testing ground to widen the ruling.
Sources said the initial attempt to implement the enactment by the MPSJ was merely a testing ground before the 20-year-old law is applied statewide.
There are fears that apart from entertainment establishments, breweries, hypermarkets and 24-hour convenience stores may also be affected.
It was reported that the additional condition was included in guidelines last year as part of its "self-initiated improvements", because the employment of Muslim workers is deemed to contravene Section 18(2) of the Syariah Criminal Enactment of Selangor.
However, the state government reversed the ban last Thursday. Executive councillor for local government Ronnie Liu said MPSJ had not consulted the state.
Khalid said currently, the Selangor Department of Islamic Affairs (JAIS) has the jurisdiction to take action against Muslim workers who serve alcohol at entertainment outlets.
"So, if JAIS needs help in enforcement, it can ask the local councils for help," he said.
He also said the study will focus on the effects of having such a requirement on the livelihoods of Muslims.
He said any requirement involving the Syariah enactment to be implemented by local councils under its by-laws or guidelines will need to be discussed and approved by the state government due to the sensitivity of the matter.
He said in the meantime, the state government will continue to engage with the Selangor Zakat Board on the establishment of a fund to help Muslims who intend to leave their jobs at these entertainment outlets.
He said that according to MPSJ president Datuk Adnan Md Ikshan, out of 170 entertainment outlets in Subang Jaya, only 13 have not agreed to the licensing guideline requirement which forbids employers of entertainment outlets from hiring Muslims.
Abdul Khalid said the 13 premises, which will be monitored, employed about 140 Muslims but the number who served alcohol was not specified.
He also said if the requirement to ensure employers of entertainment outlets did not hire Muslims was found to be feasible, it will be extended to all local councils.
This confirms theSun front page report today which said that the Subang Jaya municipality was a testing ground to widen the ruling.
Sources said the initial attempt to implement the enactment by the MPSJ was merely a testing ground before the 20-year-old law is applied statewide.
There are fears that apart from entertainment establishments, breweries, hypermarkets and 24-hour convenience stores may also be affected.
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