Selangor ‘mosque police’ faces royal obstacle

(NST) SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government's plan to give mosque officials the power to arrest beer-drinking Muslims may have run into a royal snag yesterday.

It is learned that Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim met Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah yesterday morning before the executive council meeting and the sultan wanted an explanation.

Their discussions were believed to have touched on Pas state commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Ali's plan to allow mosque officials to detain Muslims who drank beer.

The understanding is that since the sultan is the head of Islam in the state, the matter should have been discussed with him before an announcement was made.

The issue was also not discussed in the executive council before Hasan made the announcement.

The issue was hotly debated in the executive council meeting yesterday and it is understood that the executive councillors will be seeking an audience with the sultan to explain the matter to him.

On Monday, Hasan had announced that mosque officials like imam, bilal, siak and nizar had been given authority to detain without warrant Muslims who drank beer in public.

Hasan, a state executive councillor in charge of Muslim Affairs, Malay Customs, Infrastructure and Public Amenities, said the move was provided for under the Selangor Syariah Criminal Enactment 1995.

Speaking at a press conference after the executive council meeting yesterday, Hasan said the state was only enforcing the law against Muslims who drank beer and Muslims who sold it to other Muslims.

There were no plans to enforce other provisions in the enactment, such as arresting Muslims who make, sell, offer to sell, display, possess or buy any alcoholic drinks.

Khalid said the people should not be worried that Muslims working in breweries and outlets selling alcoholic drinks would be arrested.

The state was not going in that direction, he added.