KUALA LUMPUR – Malays are being held back from making economic progress based on the advice of certain preachers to avoid work that involves non-halal matters, according to former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.
In his response to an Amanah lawmaker’s proposal in the Dewan Rakyat today to let alcoholic beverages be sold through vending machines so that Muslim convenience store workers would not have to handle them, Zaid said such views had far-reaching consequences.
Such beliefs also have “economic ramifications”, Zaid added, while urging the government to rope in the Conference of Rulers to decide on such matters.
“The government needs to introduce an agenda for deliberation in the forthcoming Malay Rulers Conference (namely), the debilitating influence of preachers on the economic advancement of the Malays,” Zaid said on X (formerly Twitter).
The vending machine proposal was made by Pulai MP Suhaizan Kaiat, who said he was saddened to see Muslim cashiers in convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and Speedmart having to sell alcoholic beverages.
Suhaizan had asked if there was a way for cashiers to keep their jobs while not having to handle “haram” items, and proposed that vending machines be used to sell alcoholic beverages.
In response, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Senator Zulkifli Hasan said he welcomed the proposal.
Zaid said that going by such logic, Malays who worked as drivers should not be allowed to “drive any vehicles carrying beer bottles”.
“No Malay customs officers should be allowed to inspect beer consignments and impose duties.
“The Ministry of Finance (will also) need to employ more non-Muslims quickly as many business and commercial activities in the country are not (the) halal-type,” he added.
Zaid said finding employment was difficult as it is, but added that it is “more problematic for a Muslim who follows the preacher’s guide”.
“A website of a religious authority advised Muslims not to work in conventional banks as they are haram. A Muslim can’t work in any establishment that’s not halal,” he said, referring to advice posted by the Federal Territories Mufti’s Office on social media in January in response to a question on whether it was haram for Muslims to work in conventional banks.
The advice given was for Muslim workers in these banks to do their best to find other work that is “halal”.
However, Penang mufti Wan Salim Nor then said that Islamic law is flexible, and Muslims can work in conventional banks when there is a lack of alternative employment. – March 7, 2024