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Two Muslim served notice for handling alcohol

Two Muslim employees of a convenience store in suburb in Kuala Lumpur were served notices after they were caught selling alcohol during a raid by state religious department.

Updated on: Aug 13, 2009, 22:23:18 IST
PTI | By , Kuala Lumpur
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Two Muslim employees of a convenience store in suburb in Kuala Lumpur were served notices after they were caught selling alcohol during a raid by state religious department as people under Shariah law in the country are prohibited from selling and buying such beverages.

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The 22-year-old man and 31-year-old woman will be summoned to the Selangor Religious Department (JAIS) headquarters for questioning under the Shariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1995, local papers said.

"Under the enactment, Muslims who were caught selling or offering alcoholic drinks can be fined up to 5,000 ringgit
or 60000 rupees, or three years jail or both. Those caught for buying can be fined up to 3,000 ringgit jail for two years or both," Dr Hassan Ali, Selangor executive councillor, said.

The employees would only be summoned for education purposes although they could be fined under the law.

"Our purpose is to educate and create awareness regarding the enactment as many do not understand it."

Spot-checks were conducted on Wednesday at convenience stores around Shah Alam, Muslim majority area, following the state government's call to convenience store owners to practice self-regulation on the sale of alcohol.

"We want to see how many convenience stores have practiced self-regulation two weeks after the state government announced it (self-regulation). Our operation today is solely for Muslims under the Shariah law," he said.

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