‘We have better things to do than fine women over their clothes’

(The Star) – The state religious authorities have more pressing issues than impose fines on Muslim women for, among others, wearing indecent clothes or not donning their head scarves.

Rubbishing an online posting claiming that there was a plan to impose such fines, Johor Islamic Religious chairman Abd Mutalip Abd Rahim said it was malicious and intended to paint a negative picture of the present administration.

“The posting, which has been circulating online for the past few days, is completely untrue,” he said.

“My mobile phone has been inundated with calls and messages from Muslims wanting to know if Johor would impose such a ruling soon.

“I would like to reiterate that this is not true as we have other pressing issues concerning Muslims in the state,” said Abd Mutalip.

The posting, which went viral over social media, warned that Muslim women who failed to don head scarves would be slapped with an RM80 fine for their first offence while they faced an RM120 fine for indecent dressing.

It also claimed that Muslims riding motorcycles with those unrelated to them would be punished by an RM80 fine for men and RM100 for women, and that all businesses had to stop operating from 12.30pm until 2.30pm on Fridays.

Those caught behaving in an “unIslamic way” would also have to undergo counselling by the Islamic and Malay Heritage Council (Maidam), which is in Terengganu.

Abd Mutalip urged those who received such messages to first check their facts or clarify with the relevant authorities before fowarding these.