MANY Muslims in Malaysia are shaking their heads over the Muslim-only launderette controversy that originated in Johor but which has everybody in the country talking, thanks to social media.

Many say the move is against the very teachings of Islam.

“This is wrong. It is not the right thing to do,” Amanah vice-president Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa told The Malaysian Insight today.

“Some Malaysians have been understanding Islam wrongly.

“Even in Islamic jurisprudence, it is wrong to hold such a practice as there is nothing wrong with sharing a washing machine with others,” the Parit Buntar MP said.

Mujahid was commenting on a launderette in Muar which has a large sign in the front forbidding non-Muslims from using the washing machines. 

The laundrette owner had maintained that he was doing his duty as a Muslim and that the policy was in place for reasons of “kesucian”, or “purity”.

CIMB Group chairman Nazir Razak, in an Instagram post, said that such a launderette could exist was “troubling”.

“This is very troubling. We have to curb such extremism if we are to build a peaceful & progressive multicultural Malaysia. 

“This must be a misinterpretation of Islamic teaching,” the younger brother of Prime Minister Najib Razak said.

His post attracted mixed comments from Instagram users.

“Honestly though sir, if they’ve already set up such rules, what to do but (to) abide (by) them? There are other dobbies (launderettes) lying around that welcome everyone. 

“What confuses me is the “menjaga kesucian” (to protect purity) statement that is on the board. How about the money that these people hold? 

“Our bank notes are circulating nationwide on a daily basis and some of them must’ve been held by those who have prepared pork dishes. Or, did those people forget that detail since it’s money?” a karenmacdeau wrote.

Instagram user fathi.ridzuan said: “It is the sad state of Muslims in the country. We have become more intolerant and many have become more extreme in their views. 

“The Prophet (PBUH) even allowed non-Muslims to live in Mecca during his time, until they were driven out by the Wahabis.”

Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism  deputy president R.S. Mohan Shan said having Muslim-only businesses was not going to create a better Malaysia, and would create tension among people of different faiths. 

He said the different races and faiths had co-existed harmoniously in Malaysia for years, with each community practising tolerance and respect towards others. 

“I cannot see why a simple thing like a laundrette can become a religious matter. It is not good for racial harmony, and it won’t take us anywhere. 

“People should think twice before doing such things, creating problems,” Mohan said, adding that the government must also look into such potentially dangerous issues. 

“If the government were to just let it go, we may see similar instances happening after this.

“It will lead to everything becoming Islamic versus non-Islamic. It is bad for the country,” he told The Malaysian Insight. 

Meanwhile, vaneegnsh on social media brought up the the recent segregation of Muslim and non-Muslim cups in a Hulu Langat school.

“After the drinking glasses segregation issue, now this. Tahniah (congratulations) Malaysia. After independence, we have progressed to this level. Malaysia Boleh! #sarcasmintended”

On Twitter, Ulya Husamudin‏ (@ulyahusamudin) posted a picture of a sign reading: “Imperial Laundry Co. We wash for white people only.”

He tweeted: “For those who keep on saying Muslim only laundromat is a marketing strategy… remember this?”

Twitter user Aidi Affendi K.‏ (@aidiaffendi) criticised the “business plan”.

“From a business pov (point of view), Muslim-only-laundromat is a good plan, it caters to a specific group of paranoid selfish Muslims with shallow mindsets.

“Nabi (Prophet Muhammad) taught us 2b (to be) moderate in all aspects. Learn to live in harmony with others, muslim-only-laundromat is definitely the opposite of that.”

Yesterday, Johor prince Tunku Idris Sultan Ibrahim also took to Instagram to voice similar concerns, saying: “Is this for real? This is too extreme. I’m appalled.”

Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin also described the move by the laundrette as “narrow-minded”, saying that the practice ran contrary to the teachings of Islam, which did not seek to burden the lives of its adherents.

Sisters in Islam (SIS) called the Muslim-only policy at the launderette “divisive”, adding that it would further segregate Malaysians.

The non-governmental organisation in a statement yesterday said Malaysians should follow the Constitution that prohibits religious discrimination

“If this is allowed to continue, what other forms of discrimination would be imposed upon non-Muslims in the future?” SIS said.

The launderette’s policy does have its supporters, however.

News reports quote Johor Islamic Council adviser Nooh Gadut as saying that Muslims and non-Muslims must ensure that their laundry is not mixed with “najis mughallazah”, or faeces of pigs and dogs.

Some social media users also defended the laundrette and its operator.

Ib Nawawi wrote on Facebook that non-Muslims were upset because of the term “kesucian” on the sign, which implied that they were dirty.

“No. The word for clean is ‘bersih’. The opposite of bersih is ‘kotor’, or dirty. The opposite of ‘suci’ (pure) is not ‘kotor’. You can be very ‘bersih’, stain-free and germ-free, but not necessarily ‘suci’. 

“‘Suci’ is (a) spiritual thing. It’s a thing required by religion. If you learn the religion you’ll understand.” – September 26, 2017.