Govt mulls alcohol sale rules for stores with Muslim staff

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

Jakim has been engaged in discussions with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall, the local government department, the Labour Department, the Attorney-General's Chambers, and the Human Resources Ministry regarding the proposed guidelines, which would apply to Muslim workers in stores that sell both halal and non-halal merchandise. Hasan suggested that employers consider assigning Muslim workers to different duties or setting up separate payment counters to avoid them selling alcohol without jeopardizing their employment.

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

The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department has been regularly visiting convenience stores to provide guidance on Islamic requirements to store operators. However, Hasan did not disclose when the guidelines would be finalized or whether stores would be obligated to adhere to them. In March 2024, Hasan expressed support for a proposal that allows convenience stores to employ vending machines for alcohol sales, thereby eliminating the need for Muslim workers to handle such transactions.