No gov’t policy on separating laundrettes, says Ku Nan

As far as the federal government is concerned, there is no policy on the segregation of laundrettes, Federal Territory Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said today.

"That is not our government's policy. But individually, people can do whatever they like," he said when asked to comment on the public outcry over a Muslims-only laundrette in Muar, Johor.

"But there is no government policy at all as far as we are concerned.

"There is no separate laundry for Muslims and non-Muslims," he said during a press conference after attending the official unveiling of Pavilion Damansara Heights development project in Kuala Lumpur.

Tengku Adnan also noted that Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar had ordered a stop to the controversial policy, or the laundrette would risk being shut down.

Asked whether he would support a proposal to introduce an anti-discrimination law, he maintained that it is not the government's policy to segregate between Muslims and non-Muslims.

At the same time, he also compared the laundrette's policy to existing syariah-compliant establishments which had been operating without courting similar outrage.

"We have syariah-compliant hotels, syariah-compliant restaurants, halal restaurants, so what is the problem? I don't understand," he added.

Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching had earlier called for the introduction of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation in response to the issue, which she described as a case of "clear-cut discrimination."

Pictures of the laundrette 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 laundrette operator maintained that he was not a racist, explaining that the shop’s policy was to ensure cleanliness for his clientele, most of whom are Muslims.

The operator eventually took heed of the Johor sultan’s criticism of the policy and removed the sign, saying people of all religions would be able to patron his laundromat from now on.- Mkini