'After segregated cups, should money be cleansed too?'

Amanah's Morib assemblyperson Hasnul Baharuddin questioned whether money too should be cleansed for possibly coming in contact with pigs or dogs.

This was after a school canteen in Hulu Langat segregated cups for Muslim and non-Muslim students.

Hasnul believes the action taken by the canteen operator was due to a wrong understanding of Islam.

"Islam is a way of life that is not burdensome.

"Going by the understanding of the canteen operator, then they should have samak (cleanse) the money received because the money might have come into contact with pigs or dogs," he said in a statement today.

In Islam, pigs and dogs are categorised as najis mughallazah (heavy filth).

To samak, one needs to wash an area that has come into contact with a dog or a pig seven times, the first time with water mixed with earth and the rest with clean water.

Parents and netizens had expressed outraged when images of the cups, labelled "murid Islam" (Muslim students) and “murid bukan Islam” (non-Muslim students), were posted on social media.

Hasnul said the government should look into the matter seriously as it involves racial sentiments.

"The education ministry must play a more effective role whereby research is needed to identify solutions to this problem," he said.

Malaysia didn't need to look far, he added, citing the international school system in the country as well as the system practised in Singapore.

"In Singapore, there are students from all races but Malay parents do not feel worried about sending their children to Chinese or international schools.

"What I'm trying to stress here is that the government must be more focused on education and the need to respect all religions," he said.

This, he said, is possible through the education system and by putting into place clear guidelines in relation to tolerance and mutual understanding. - Mkini