Malaysian Muslims Employed at Entertainment Outlets Have to Quit

The latest ruling by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) has not been well-received by the people who make a living serving alchohol at entertainment outlets in the city.

The state government, however, has not approved of the ruling and state local government chairman, Ronnie Liu, has advised the council to withdraw the ruling.

At the exco meeting last Wednesday, 12th January, the council had decided that all pubs, clubs and discos that have liquour licences issued by the Customs Department would not be allowed to hire Muslim employees.

Apparently this is not a new ruling. In June 2009, the council had made the ruling in accordance with Section 18 (2) of the Syariah Criminal Enactment (Selangor) 1995 but it is only now that the ruling is being fully enforced. Failure to abide by this ruling would mean a fine of up to $5,000.

Entertainment outlet operators, it seems, have no choice but to fire all their Muslim employees and to look for new employees who are not Muslims.

If you’re a Muslim, you would know the Islamic law regarding liquor. Any Muslims who are involved in any part of the process in getting alcohol to the drinker is breaking the law and will be considered a sinner.

From the grape pickers to the driver who transports the liquor, to the person selling and serving the liquor, they are all considered sinners where Islamic law is concerned.

Malaysia is a Muslim majority country. Therefore, it is inevitable that as Muslims the authorities must enforce the Muslim law.

Public outcry has been rampant since many of those employed in these entertainment outlets are indeed Muslims.

Secretary-general Malaysia Trades Union Congress (MTUC),  Abdul Halim Mansor disagreed with the ruling because it will affect the rice bowl of many Malaysian workers. He claimed that Muslims working at these outlets are only serving liquour and not drinking alcohol.

I think Abdul Halim Mansor should go back to his religious books (if indeed he’s a Muslim) and read again the Islamic laws regarding alcohol.

There are so many other ways to earn a living without breaking the religious laws that one has been brought up to believe in. If it’s against the Islamic laws then it just is. If you don’t agree with the Islamic laws then stop being a Muslim and do what you wish.