Thread: Malaysia : Fund to help Muslims affected by liquor ban

Khalid: Fund to help Muslims affected by liquor ban
Friday January 14, 2011

KLANG: The Selangor government is setting up a fund to help Muslims following the Subang Jaya Municipal Council’s (MPSJ) directive banning them from working in entertainment outlets serving liquor.

This seems to contradict local government chairman Ronnie Liu’s statement on Thursday that the state government had advised the MPSJ president to withdraw the new condition.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said in a statement he would be meeting local and district council presidents as well as mayors on Monday to discuss the enforcement of the enactment.

He also announced that exco members Datuk Dr Hasan Ali, Yaakob Sapari, Dr Halimah Ali and Rodziah Ismail would be forming a secretariat to discuss the fund with the Selangor Zakat Board.

“The special fund is to help Muslim workers who will be leaving their jobs at entertainment outlets that sell liquor,” said Khalid.

Workers in pubs, hotels, restaurants and clubs located in areas under the jurisdiction of MPSJ found themselves in a predicament after the local authority enforce the ban which is in accordance with Section 18 (2) of the Syariah Criminal Enactment (Selangor) 1995.

Khalid said the state government respected the Syariah Criminal Enactment which was aimed at ensuring Muslims did not obtain their source of income by flouting Islamic values.

thestar.com.my

another hand out for the Bummis

Originally Posted by Mid

ensuring Muslims did not obtain their source of income by flouting Islamic values.

Reckon, the 40,000 employees who's business is lending money will also soon be unemployed. Good news they will have financial support.

Liquor ban will lead to chaos, says Liu
Saturday January 15, 2011

KLANG: Reiterating his call on the lifting of the ban on Muslims working in outlets selling liquor, Local Government Committee chairman Ronnie Liu said Subang Jaya Municipal Council should have consulted the state on the move.

The ban by MPSJ would have chaotic consequences in the state and country, Liu said.

"What if other districts want to follow if we allow MPSJ to go ahead with the ban.

"What happens if other states also find themselves having to implement the ban?" said Liu, adding that it could result in a domino effect on hotels, restaurants, airlines and even resorts.

"Just imagine the number of people who will be jobless and the outlets will be forced to close," he said adding that the exco agreed that the ban be lifted.

He said many people (including cooks and waiters) would be jobless eventhough their work do not require them to handle liquor.

MPSJ had said that licenses of entertainment outlets will be revoked if they go against the Selangor Syariah Criminal Enactment that bans Muslims from working in outlets selling liquor.

Its president Datuk Adnan Mohd Ikshan had said the decision to implement the ban was made last year and by virtue of this it took effect this year.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said on Friday that he would be meeting all local council presidents and mayors to explain the consequences of MPSJ's action.

Meanwhile, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad said MPSJ's move to implement the ban was unIslamic.

He said there should be proper planning and in-depth discussion by all relevant parties before the ban was implemented.

thestar.com.my