Thursday, January 20, 2011

Ban on Muslims working in outlets selling liquor. (Local)

From what I had observed, the most domintating news for the past week would be the 'Ban on Muslims working in outlets that sell liquor'.
The Subang Jaya Municipal Coucil (MPSJ) endorsed a new condition in June 2009 which is to ban Muslims from working at entertainment outlets with liquor licenses. As stated in the newspapers, the council is facing pressure to rescind the controversial ruling. The state local government chairman, Ronnie Liu however, proposed to go against this new condition. He had advised the MPSJ president to withdraw the condition thinking that this move would affect the Muslims who are working in the entertainment outlets. Many people will go jobless and this decision will also lead to closing down of those outlets. The PAS youth on the other hand, wants the MPSJ to  uphold its decision to bar Muslims from working in places that sell liquor although there are pressure from DAP leaders to overturn the ruling. They think that it is inappropriate for Muslims to work in such places. In an about-turn, the Selangor goverment now wants the MPSJ to retract its ban on Muslim working in entertainment outlets selling liquor. On January 16 2011, Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had announced the setting up of funds to help those who would lose their jobs to ensure smooth implementation of the ban which was inline with the state's syariah enactment. 10 million was allocated into the fund to help the people. One of those who go against this ban is the Tourism Minister, Datuk Sri Ng Yen Yen. She stated that it is an important issue as it touches on human rights and a person's livelihood. After many arguments, it is crucial for the government to study the move thoroughly. This move will cause serious consequences not only to the public but also to those who owns an entertainment outlet. 
On the 18th January 2011, Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim stated to the media that the move is only a guideline and not a ruling. Apparently, the ban announced by MPSJ was just a reminder to Muslim on the inappropriateness of working in entertainment outlets which sell alcohol. To avoid further confusions in the future Muslims should not be employed.
In my personal opinion on the other hand, I strongly go against the move endorsed by MPSJ. Questions that came into my mind, what if those who work in the entertainment outlets are just cleaner, dish-washer or waiter/waitresses? What will happened to those employers who hired mostly Muslims to work in their outlets?Not only that, the banning on a person to work in any place equals violating human rights. Therefore, I suggest that the government should advise the outlets' owner to reduce the employment of Muslims in their outlets in the future to avoid any controversy.

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