Amanah calls Muslims-only laundrette ‘immature’

The Johor laundrette that caters only to Muslims is unsuitable and immature in a multicultural and multi-religious society, according to Amanah vice-president Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus.

“This will create anger, requiring people to separate their clothes. This is a minor thing. When we start separating (things like this), it creates misgivings and suspicion among non-Muslims.

“If Muslims feel (a separate laundrette) is good, it will result in them feeling discomfort among others,” he told Malaysiakini.

Hasanuddin said this when visiting the Pusat Tahfiz Ittifaqiyah in Taman Kosas, Ampang.

The issue went viral when pictures of the Muslims-only laundrette began circulating on social media. Its operator was quoted by a Chinese daily as saying that he was only carrying out his duties as a Muslim.

He added that the laundrette welcomed Chinese and Indian Muslim customers, but that non-Muslims should wash their clothes elsewhere.

However, the operator did not reveal the reasoning behind his decision to limit services to Muslims only and declined to comment on whether it was due to “unclean” elements on the clothes of non-Muslim customers, such as dog fur.

Hasanuddin expressed regret over what transpired, as he said Islam does not differentiate between things that do not need to be differentiated.

“I am saddened. In this world, Allah wants us to share; it is not appropriate if we separate that sharing for things that do not need to be separated.

“Opening a laundrette for Muslims, and not for non-Muslims, shows the level of immaturity in the country,” he said.- Mkini