Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim today said that only the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) can take action on Muslims working in business premises that serve alcohol and not local authorities.

“Jais can enforce (the rule) on individuals, not to the (business) premises.

“And if Jais wants to ask the local government to assist with enforcement, they can,” Khalid told reporters after chairing a meeting with the heads of local authorities and city mayors.

This, he said, was because the religious body derives enforcement powers on Muslims from the Syariah Criminal Enactment 1995.

Under Syariah laws, it is an offence for Muslims not only to consume alcohol but also to serve it.

However local authorities do not have such powers as currently it is unclear if local governments can incorporate the enactment into their by-laws, he related.

Khalid clarified that the requirement in the licensing of 170 entertainment premises in Subang Jaya by the MPSJ is not a ban on Muslim employees but just an ‘advise’ to business owners to stop employing Muslims.

“This is in line with the state policy to see a reduction of Muslims employed in the alcohol-related sector,” said Khalid.

He explained that the 13 entertainment outlets that still employ about 140 Muslims can still renew their licences as the guideline is not enforceable as it is not a by-law or ruling.

But the MB added that the state is looking to study if it was possible for local governments to  append the enactment to their by-laws and thus gain enforcement powers.

If the finding of the study is favourable, Khalid said that MPSJ’s practice may also be expanded all over Selangor.

“Of course, as Muslims we always want to help our brother Muslims to become better Muslims,” he said when asked about the matter.

He stressed however that the state will not do anything that will jeopardise the rights of non-Muslims nor the livelihood of the Muslims affected.

As such, he said that the state is looking to work closely with the state Zakat Board to see if they can set up a fund to retrain and re-skill the workers involved into other sectors.