Malaysia's Selangor Govt. urges municipality to withdraw ban on Muslim liquor outlet workers

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 16 (ANI): The Selangor Government in Malaysia has reportedly urged the Subang Jaya Municipal Council to withdraw its ban on Muslims working in entertainment outlets that sell liquor.

The announcement is a complete reverse of earlier statements of Selangor's Chief Minister Khalid Ibrahim, who had announced the setting up of funds to help those who would lose their jobs to ensure smooth implementation of the ban, which was in line with the state's syariah enactment.

"The ban would not only result in people losing their jobs, but the outlets affected may also have to close shop," he had said.

Exco in charge of local government Ronnie Liu said the state government was worried about the consequences that might arise if the ban was not lifted.

"What if the Muslim is a director of a pub? What if the person is a cleaner or a cook? It would not be fair for these people to lose their jobs as their scope of work does not require them to handle liquor," The Star quoted Liu, as saying.

Shah Alam PAS MP Khalid Samad said Hasan Ali and three other exco members - Yaakob Sapari, Dr Halimah Ali and Rodziah Ismail - would meet the Selangor zakat authority to discuss the setting up of the fund to help those who would lose their jobs as a result of the ban.

Meanwhile, sources have claimed that the issue might cause problems between executive councillors, as PAS representatives like Dr Hassan Ali are in favour of the ban.

Khalid said Hasan Ali and three other exco members, Yaakob Sapari, Dr Halimah Ali and Rodziah Ismail, would meet the Selangor zakat authority on Friday to discuss the setting up of the fund to help those who would lose their jobs as a result of the ban. (ANI)