KUALA LUMPUR: Sisters in Islam (SIS) expressed disappointment over the “Muslim only” policy by a self-service laundrette in Muar urging authorities to prevent the discriminatory act which could harm the unity between the diverse communities in Malaysia.
In a statement today, the organisation believes that Muslim authorities and leaders in Johor must approach the issue as the policy has been seen as prejudiced and bigotry.
“We urge the religious authorities and religious leaders of Johor to take a moderate and enlightened approach to this, advising for tolerance and community building lest it becomes the norm rather than an isolated case.
”As Malaysians, we need to be guided by our Constitution which prohibits discrimination based on faith, among others. This will surely be seen by non-Muslims as a form of discrimination against them.
“Islam is a religion of fairness, justice and has high regard for dignity in humanity. In fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), the assumption that a Muslim applies to his or her daily life is that so long as there is no concrete proof that a cloth has been contaminated with impurities, it is considered to be clean,” the statement said.
Sisters in Islam noted that Muslims must adhere to Islamic values such as tolerance, openness and empathy towards others regardless of gender, religion, faith and race.