KUALA LUMPUR – The government will look into the suggestion of selling alcoholic beverages through vending machines to prevent Muslim cashiers from physically and directly selling haram items.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Senator Zulkifli Hasan said his ministry welcomed suggestions that would help prevent Muslim individuals from selling alcoholic beverages directly.
He said this in the Dewan Rakyat today during the Minister’s Question Time, after Suhaizan Kaiat (Pulai-PH) proposed that alcoholic beverages in convenience stores be sold via vending machines.
Suhaizan said he was saddened to see that Muslim cashiers in convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and Speedmart had to sell alcoholic beverages, and asked if there was a way for cashiers to keep their jobs while not having to handle “haram” items.
“For example, (maybe) a discussion with the local authority to sell alcoholic beverages through vending machines, for example, so that they do not sell the alcoholic beverages directly,” he said.
In response, Zulkifli said Suhaizan’s idea could be an additional measure for the ministry to consider.
“We value Pulai’s idea and we will bring this for discussion at relevant levels,” he said.
Zulkifli explained that the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has been conducting various awareness programmes through social media and talks by religious teachers, besides offering temporary assistance from the zakat fund and skills courses to Muslim employees who no longer want to work in such jobs. – March 7, 2024