PR Governed State to bar Booze selling outlets from hiring Muslims

Leven Woon Zheng Yang
The Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) has introduced a new licensing guideline that bans establishments that serve alcohol from employing Muslims.

The additional condition was added to the new licensing guidelines last year, because the employment of Muslim workers is deemed to contravene Section 18 (2) of the Syariah Criminal Enactment of Selangor.

The condition was tabled last year as part of its 'self-initiated improvements', the MPSJ's public relations department told Komunitikini today.

Businesses that fail to abide by the condition will be subject to a compound or the withdrawal their business licence, said acting public relations officer Azfarizal Abd Rashid.

Half of the outlets will have to close

The new guideline has drawn protest from the entertainment sector in Subang, whose workforce is largely comprised of Muslims.

Johari, a cost-controller at popular pub, @live, in Sunway Pyramid, claims that 50 percent of entertainment outlets in Subang will have to close if the authority enforces the guideline.

“The majority of our staff is local Muslims, and this figure is common in the industry,” said Johari, who has ten years experience in the line.

He feels the authorities are unfairly singling out the entertainment sector, whereas big industry players are not subject to the same guideline.

“If they want to ban Muslim workers (from working in establishments that serve alcohol), what about Muslims working in Guinness Anchor and Carlsberg?”

“What about the MAS (Malaysia Airlines) stewardesses? They serve more liquor than what we serve here,” he asked rhetorically.