Dressing down for
launderette
27 Sep 2017 wong chun
wai Star Online
JOHOR BARU: The Sultan of Johor, Sultan
Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, has ordered the
controversial Muslim-only launderette in Muar to immediately stop
its discriminatory practice or risk being shut down by
him.
“I cannot accept this nonsense. This is Johor,
which belongs to Bangsa Johor and it belongs to all races and
faiths. This is a progressive, modern and moderate
state.
“This is not a Taliban state and as the Head
of Islam in Johor, I find this action to be totally unacceptable as
this is extremist in nature,” he said.
His Majesty said he also ordered the state
Islamic religious affairs committee chairman Abdul Mutalip Abd
Rahim, the religious council and the district council to
investigate the matter.
The Sultan added that he had also spoken to
Mufti Johor Datuk Mohd Tahrir Samsudin as well as state exco for
religion Abd Mutalip Abd Rahim over the matter.
“I want the owner to apologise to me and the
people of Johor. He has made Johoreans very angry and embarrassed
because this is not the Johor we want.
“The owner has gone against the vision of a
united, harmonious, moderate and tolerant Johor. If he still
insists on carrying on the Muslim-only practice, he can leave
Johor. I suggest he set up shop in Afghanistan. His thinking is
sick and goes against everything that Johor stands for.”
His Majesty, who was visibly upset, said he
and his family members were “deeply appalled” by the action of the
launderette owner, saying if this was not stopped, it would lead to
more narrow-minded actions in the name of Islam.
Pictures of the launderette went viral last
week when it was reported that it had a sign saying that only
Muslims were allowed to use its machines.
He said the owner had first put up his
Muslim-only notices and after the issue became controversial, the
owner put up a new sign to say it was “Muslim-friendly.”
“Don’t try to be clever. It’s still the same.
The owner needs to have his brains cleaned up.
“I want to put a stop to such extremism.
Extremism has no place in my state. We take pride in being Bangsa
Johor and I want to know where the owner of this launderette learn
his Islam? Islam teaches the faithful to be tolerant and respect
other people and faiths,” he said at Istana Bukit Serene here
yesterday,
On Monday, Johor Prince Tunku Idris Sultan
Ibrahim expressed dismay over the launderette’s move, asked: “Is
this for real? I’m appalled” in his Instagram.
The Sultan said the mosques in Johor were open
to non-Muslims, for example, as long as they were properly dressed
and he could not imagine non-Muslims being banned from entering the
mosques, saying he was concerned over rising religious
extremism.
“I wonder where this launderette owner washes
his clothes when he is overseas? Is he saying only the clothes of
Muslims are clean and those of non-Muslims are unclean? That’s what
he means, I believe.
“From now on, I am directing the state
executive council and all the councils to insist that any business
owners who carry out such blatant discriminatory practices should
have their licences revoked. Don’t mess around with your
narrow-minded religious prejudices.”
His Majesty added that he could not keep quiet
on the issue, as if this was allowed to go unnoticed, “then next we
will have taxis for only Muslims or non-Muslims.”
He said he also did not want other races to
carry out similar actions.