Jais to enforce alcohol enactment

(NST) SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) has been instructed to enforce enactments related to alcoholic drinks contained in the 1995 Selangor Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment.

Jais director Datuk Mohamed Khusrin Munawi said the instruction was issued by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) after its meeting on Tuesday.

The enforcement meant action could now be taken against all Muslims who sold, bought and consumed alcoholic drinks, including Muslim store owners, franchise owners and store workers, he said when contacted by the New Straits Times yesterday.

Khusrin, however, stressed that the enforcement would only involve Muslims and non-Muslims would not be affected.

He said according to Section 18 (1) of the enactment, Muslims who consumed alcoholic drinks in shops or public areas could, if convicted, be fined up to RM3,000, or jailed not more than two years or both.

As for Section 18 (2) of the same enactment, Muslims who manufactured, sold, offered and displayed for sale, kept, or bought any alcohol could be fined not more than RM5,000, or jailed not more than three years or more, if convicted.

"Islam defines all drinks which can intoxicate as an offence even though the percentage of alcohol in the mixture is small," Khusrin explains.

He hoped all parties understood what was contained in the enactments and requested Muslims who were involved in manufacturing, selling, offering, displaying and keeping alcoholic drinks to stop immediately to avoid being prosecuted.

He said the laws also served to prevent social ills connected to excessive consumption of alcohol.