Govt mulls alcohol sale rules for stores with Muslim staff

The Malaysian government is contemplating rules to exempt Muslim staff from selling alcohol at convenience stores, according to Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Hasan. In a written parliamentary response, Hasan revealed that the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) is examining how local councils could utilize existing rules and business license conditions to address this concern.

Jakim has been engaged in discussions with various agencies, including the Kuala Lumpur City Hall, the Labour Department, the Attorney-General's Chambers, and the Human Resources Ministry, regarding the proposed guidelines. These guidelines would apply to Muslim workers in stores that sell both halal and non-halal products. Hasan suggested that employers should consider assigning alternative duties to Muslim staff or setting up separate payment counters to prevent them from selling alcohol, thereby safeguarding their employment.

The minister responded to a question from Zulkifli Ismail (PN-Jasin), who inquired about the government's efforts to prevent Muslim workers at convenience stores from handling alcohol sales. Jakim plans to continue consultations with local councils, state Islamic religious departments, and other agencies before finalizing any measures.

The federal territories Islamic religious department has been routinely visiting convenience stores to provide operators with guidance on Islamic requirements. However, Hasan did not disclose the anticipated timeline for the guidelines or whether stores would be obligated to comply. In March 2024, Hasan endorsed a proposal permitting convenience stores to employ vending machines for alcohol sales, thereby eliminating the need for Muslim workers to handle such transactions.