WHILE the Selangor Pakatan coalition with differing views and ideologies has come to a seemingly sober  solution on what it terms as a "principled position" on the sale of beer in Muslim majority areas in the State, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Jais) has been unwavering from the start.

Jais will continue to haul up Muslims who work in establishments and stores selling liquor beverages. "We will continue to talk to Muslims who are working in these areas even if they are not directly handling alcoholic
beverages," said Mohd Hidayat Abd Rani, special assistant to Jais director Datuk Mohamed Khusrin Nunawi,
who is away attending a seminar.

"If we take action and haul them to court, people will call us cruel, so we want to educate them. We know  any
Muslims working in these places are ignorant of syariah laws, so we want to educate them first that it is not  right under the syariah laws to even work in such places," he said.

Under Section 19 (1) of the Syariah Criminal Offences (State of Selangor) Enactment 1995, it is an offence for
anyone to consume alcohol and Section 19 (2) states that it is an offence for anyone to make, sell, offer or exhibit for sale intoxicating drinks.

"The law is very clear... you cannot be working in any place that sells, offers or exhibits the sale of beer or
intoxicants," he said, adding that Jais would first concentrate on Muslim majority areas to educate those working in these places.

"It is up to them to decide after that. But I believe most Muslims will not want to work in such places if they have alternative employment."

Following a spat between two councillors over the sale of beer in Selangor, Pakatan leaders met and struck a compromise enabling outlets in Selangor to continue selling alcohol related beverages but outlawing the sales to minors and Muslims.

The move is in line with the State government's decision that convenience stores should practice self- regulation in the sale of alcoholic beverages, instead of banning its sale in Muslim majority areas.

"In line with the ruling, we will be calling owners, operators or store managers to come to the Jais office to be educated on how to carry on their business in Muslim majority areas," Hidayat said.

Asked to elaborate, he said they would be told to put up signs forbidding Muslims from buying alcoholic drinks.

On the fate of eight Muslim workers detained at the Bar Celona Restaurant, Bar and Club Lounge at Sunway
Pyramid selling alcoholic beverages last month, he said they were on court bail and were yet to be charged.

"We are investigating the case and have not decided whether to charge them or not," said Hidayat, adding
that the two Muslim workers from a 7-Eleven store in Section 8, Shah Alam, who were issued notices to come to the Jais office were enlightened on not selling or handling alcoholic beverages.

No stock at Shah Alam 7-Eleven

NO MORE: This 7-Eleven store in Section 8, Shah Alam, no longer stocks beer

A survey by the Malay Mail yesterday found 7-Eleven stores in several areas in Shah Alam have stopped selling beer following the controversy over such sales in Muslim majority areas.

One of the stores, situated next to a mosque in Section 8, was raided by Jais officers recently for selling it and has taken beer off its shelves.

“We stopped selling beer recently,” said the store manager, who only wanted to be identified as Faizal.

Two employees of the store, a 22-year-old man and a 31-yearold woman were questioned by Jais on why they had handled beer and served with notices to appear at the Jais headquarters. They have since not reported for work.

“I don’t know where they are. Maybe they stopped work,” said Faizal.

Asked about the previous store manager who was also hauled up to explain why the two Muslim workers were required to handle alcoholic beverages, Faizal said he was transferred to another outlet.

Another 7-Eleven store in Section 6, situated on Jalan Cendrawasih and close to the UiTM campus, has also removed beer from its shelves.

The store manager, who did not want to give her name, said the store recently stopped selling beer and other alcoholic drinks.

Asked if she knew anything about the recent ruling regarding sale of beer in Selangor, she said she was only a worker and did not have the authority to decide what should be sold at the outlet.

Several patrons of the two 7-Eleven stores said they were not against the sale of beer or Muslims working in such areas but did not want Shah Alam to be turned into a “toddy shop”.

“They can buy and go home and drink for all I care, but it is offensive to see people buying and drinking in the vicinity, especially youths,” said taxi driver Johari.

A UiTM student in Section 6 said Muslims knew it was wrong to drink alcohol but was a bit surprised that they cannot be employed in places that sell alcohol.

“We are not an Islamic State like Iran or Pakistan. We are a Muslim country and people should be allowed to work where they want to,” said the 21-year old student, who only wanted to be identified as Salleh.