Zaid blasts MP’s proposal for alcohol sales via vending machines

 

Former Kota Bharu MP Zaid Ibrahim said the finance ministry would need to employ more non-Muslims quickly as many business and commercial activities in the country are not the halal-type.

PETALING JAYA: Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has slammed Pulai MP Suhaizan Kaiat’s proposal for convenience stores to sell alcohol through vending machines to avoid Muslim workers from handling the beverage.

Zaid said that “according to many Muslims”, they are not allowed to consume alcoholic beverages and not even allowed to “touch the bottle”.

The former Kota Bharu MP said if that was the case then, in the same vein, no Malay drivers should be allowed to drive any vehicles carrying beer bottles.

“No Malay customs officers should also be allowed to inspect beer consignments and impose duties.

“Lastly, the finance ministry would need to employ more non-Muslims quickly as many business and commercial activities in the country are not the halal-type,” he said in a post on X.

Earlier, Suhaizan asked deputy religious affairs minister Zulkifli Hasan in the Dewan Rakyat if the federal government could find a way to help Muslims working at convenience stores avoid handling alcoholic beverages.

“For example, we could discuss with the municipal or city council to create guidelines for the sale of alcoholic beverages via vending machines. Hence, they (Muslim workers) don’t have to directly sell alcoholic beverages,” said Suhaizan.

Zaid cited an example of a well-known Muslim preacher advising a Muslim architect to disobey the instructions of his boss to sketch and draw a plan for a temple, failing which he should look for another job.

“Looking for a job is hard, but it’s more problematic for a Muslim who follows the preacher’s guide,” said Zaid.

He also referred to a recommendation by Federal Territories mufti Luqman Abdullah for Muslim employees at conventional banks to move to jobs that are considered “halal”.

Luqman said that even though there may be difficulty finding employment, Muslims should make every effort to avoid and leave “haram places of work”.

Penang mufti Wan Salim Wan Noor responded to Luqman by saying that Muslims may work in conventional banks in times of emergency or when there is a lack of alternative employment.

He said this shows Islamic law is flexible and always takes into account the changeable nature of life.

Zaid said the government should introduce an agenda on “the debilitating influence of preachers on the economic advancement of the Malays” for the Conference of Ruler’s deliberation, “since we have thousands of preachers giving advice freely on matters of religion” with far-reaching economic consequences. - FMT