Johor prince ‘appalled’ over Muslim-only launderette in own state

Johor prince Tunku Idris Sultan Ibrahim has expressed shock over a move by a launderette in Muar, Johor to limit its services to Muslims only.

“Is this for real? This is too extreme. I’m appalled,” he said in an Instagram post accompanied by a news report on the matter.

Tunku Idris in a separate posting posted an image which states how the Quran says to “speak good to people” and that it doesn’t say to “speak good only to Muslims”.

He also posted a Quranic verse from surah al-Kafirun which states “for you is your religion, and for me is my religion”.

“Islam has taught me about tolerance and respecting people of other faith. Not about supremacy over others,” said Tunku Idris.

He, however, did not specifically refer to the Muslim-only launderette issue in the subsequent posts.

Pictures of the Muar launderette went viral last week when it was reported that a sign on the premises reminded customers that only Muslims were allowed to use its laundry machines.

The operator declined to comment on why such conditions were imposed but said he was only carrying out his obligations as a Muslim. He also declined to comment on whether it was due to “unclean” elements on the clothes on non-Muslim customers, such as dog fur.

Johor Islamic Council adviser Nooh Gadut said that Muslims and non-Muslims must ensure that clothes washed in launderettes are free from “najis mughallazah” (impurities such as fecal matter from pigs and dogs).

Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, however, described the move by the launderette as “narrow-minded”, saying that the practice ran contrary to the teachings of Islam which do not seek to burden the lives of its adherents.- Mkini