Beer issue could have been avoided if Sultan was consulted

Beer issue could have been avoided if Sultan was consulted

THE issue of the sale of beer and the empowerment of mosque officials to arrest Muslims who flout syariah laws in Selangor would not have turned controversial if Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had been consulted.

"Now the Sultan is not pleased because he was not consulted on matters related to Islam," said Ronnie Liu, the Selangor exco in charge of local councils.

Asked if the relevant parties were told of the need to consult the Sultan before making announcements related to the empowerment of mosque officials to arrest Muslims, Liu said it was a matter that all parties should know.

"I am not in a position to educate my fellow councillors in their respective areas of expertise," he said, adding it was common knowledge that Rulers must be consulted on all matters pertaining to Islam.

Datuk Dr Hassan Ali may have exceeded his powers by unilaterally empowering mosque officials to arrest Muslims caught drinking alcohol, without first consulting the Selangor Sultan.

The message from the palace on the Sultan's displeasure is believed to have been conveyed through Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim when he met the Sultan last Wednesday.

Earlier this month, Hassan, the exco incharge of Islamic affairs, courted controversy when he backed an illegal move by the Shah Alam City Council to seize beer from a 7-Eleven outlet and called for beer to be banned in Muslim-majority areas.

The matter was laid to rest when Khalid successfully called on retail outlets to practise self-regulation.

Another controversy broke out last week when Hassan raised the ire of his executive council colleagues with the announcement to empower mosque officials, including imam and bilal to arrest Muslims for drinking beer and alcohol in public without a warrant under the Syariah Criminal Enactment 1995.

Asked about his visit to Kelantan to see how beer sales were regulated in the predominantly Muslim State, Liu said he was awaiting response from the State.

"The delegation from Selangor will be headed by Shah Alam mayor Mazalan Md. Noor and we are interested to know how they are doing it there."

Soon after Liu made known his intention to visit Kelantan, Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said the regulation on the sale of beer in the State to non-Muslims was enforced and regulated according to provisions in the syariah.

Kelantan started regulating the sale of beer and alcohol according to provisions in the syariah soon after Pas took control of the State in 1990.

source : www.mmail.com.my