THE Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) has stressed the need to take a holistic and comprehensive approach as opposed to imposing an outright ban to prevent Muslims from working in premises selling alcohol beverages.
According to Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan, there are generally three alcohol control measures, namely the (i) Federal level under the Customs Act 1967 and the Excise Act 1976; (ii) the state level; and (iii) the local authority level (PBT).
“From this aspect, JAKIM currently plays a role in providing understanding in the aspect of education and da’wah (preaching),” he said in a reply to an additional question posed by PAS Jasin MP Zulkifli Ismail in the Dewan Rakyat today (March 7 ) on what is JAKIM’s role in engaging with industry players on the matter. “From the aspect of law enforcement, it is in the jurisdiction of other parties.”
The Central PAS Ulamak Council deputy head wanted to know if JAKIM has also held an engagement session with the state government and industry players involved on the framework of the State Syariah Criminal Enactment to identify efforts to prevent Muslims from seeking employment at premises selling alcohol beverages.
To quell doubts and confusion over the matter, the Federal Territory Mufti Office had on Jan 9, 2017 addressed the issue of working in a convenience store – as in the case of 7-Eleven, 99 Speedmart and others – that sell alcoholic beverages.
Below are its three viewpoints:
- If the income is derived from the sale of both from the permissible and the prohibited, then the wage is not prohibited but makruh (undesirable).
- If the worker himself is involved with the sale – ie he is working as the cashier – then it is prohibited although the prohibition is not the same as consuming the alcohol beverage.
- It is best to separate between the counters of permissible and prohibited products in accordance with the work shift of the employees; this is deemed the responsibility of the employers to protect the welfare of their Muslim staff.
“As a whole, we would advise the employees concerned to try and find work at places where there are no elements of doubt for that is safer and calms one’s heart,” added the Federal Territory Mufti Office. – March 7, 2024
