The Malaysian Insider

UPDATED

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 — Mosque committee members such as the imam and the bilal will be given powers to arrest Muslims drinking alcohol in public, in a move that highlights the fundamentalist face of PAS and could scare off non-Muslim voters from backing the Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

Selangor executive councilor in charge of religion Hassan Ali, who has been locked in controversy over his views on the open sale of beer in convenience stores, made the announcement today.

He also said that the mosque committee members would be allowed to arrest Muslims for selling and storing alcoholic beverages.

Such a ruling could result in many Malay-Muslims losing their jobs in restaurants and hotels in the state.

It is also likely to have consequences for many businesses in the state, and could drive non-Muslim voters who have been strong supporters of the PR alliance to Barisan Nasional (BN).

Hassan also said that the mosque committee members would be given wide ranging powers to also help in the arrest of Muslims for being “disrespectful during the Ramadan month”.

The new ruling suggests a push for a culture of intolerance reminiscent of attempts made by both Terengganu and Federal Territory religious officials to set up snoop squads to report on “immoral activities” a few years ago.

It also comes at a time when controversy continues to brew over the recent whipping sentence imposed on Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno for drinking beer in public.

Kartika was to have been sent to Kajang prison today to be whipped but it has been postponed till after the fasting month.

Hassan was also recently embroiled in controversy after he lashed out at fellow executive council member Ronnie Liu for stopping the illegal seizure of beer by local enforcement officers from a convenience store in Shah Alam.

The state PAS commissioner appears to be trying now to circumvent the law which does not allow local councils to enforce religious rulings by giving the power of arrest to mosque committees.

But such civilian religious vigilante squads are not likely to be well received by the public.

State government religious department officers are already empowered to enforce Islamic enactments.

Hassan Ali said these religious officials would be briefed and given training in stages in order to enforce the state religious law.

Speaking at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque, Hassan said many youths in luxury cars had been killed because of drink driving.

The Selangor Islamic Affair executive councillor stressed the enforcement would only involve Muslims and would not interfere with the rights of non-Muslims to drink and buy alcohol.

However, his assurances are unlikely to assure non-Muslims, already weary of his increasing hard line position and his last attempt to ban the sale of beers in Muslim majority areas.

A PR politician who spoke on condition of anonymity said today’s move would further dilute the goodwill non-Muslims have extended to PAS.

“I would not be surprise if non-Muslims in Permatang Pasir vote against PAS during the by-election tomorrow.”

Hassan said Muslim caught drinking in shops or in public places could face a fine of RM3,000, two years imprisonment or both.

Muslims who sell or offer to sell, display or keep alcohol could be fined RM5,000, face three years imprisonment or both.

However, state assistant Syariah legal advisor Mohamed Fouzi Mokhtar today said the power of arrest for religious officials are limited and unlike police powers.

He cautioned that religious officials could not detain suspects for 24 hours but must hand them over to police and must lodge a report if force is used during the arrest, to avoid being sued.

“Any arrest must be according to procedure to avoid any legal liability because religious officials also risk being sued in their personal capacity.”

Mohamed Fouzi was speaking after briefing 1,000 religious officials.

He said they were also empowered to take action against 24-hour convenience stores which sell alcohol under the same enactment.

For the offence of not respecting Ramadan, he said religious officials could not arrest Muslims not observing the fast unless they refuse to give their particulars or cooperate.

Muslims can be fined RM2,000, face one year imprisonment or both if they are caught eating, drinking or smoking during Ramadan.

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