SULTAN of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, has demanded that the owner of a Muslim-only launderette to apologise publicly and cease its discriminatory practice, or risk being shut down, The Star reports.

“This is not a Taliban state and as the head of Islam in Johor, I find this action to be totally unacceptable as this is extremist in nature,” the sultan told the daily.

“I cannot accept this nonsense. This is Johor, which belongs to Bangsa Johor and it belongs to all races and faiths. This is a progressive, modern and moderate state.”

The sultan slammed the owner of the launderette as “sick”, and said his family were “deeply appalled” over the incident.

“I want the owner to apologise to me and the people of Johor. He has made Johoreans very angry and embarrassed because this is not the Johor we want.

“The owner has gone against the vision of a united, harmonious, moderate and tolerant Johor. If he still insists on carrying on the Muslim-only practice, he can leave Johor. I suggest he set up shop in Afghanistan. His thinking is sick and goes against everything that Johor stands for.”

The sultan added that he had also spoken to Johor Mufti Mohd Tahrir Samsudin as well as state exco for religion Abd Mutalip Abd Rahim over the matter, and that the state’s religious affairs council has been instructed to investigate the matter.

The launderette in Muar, Johor, recently caused an uproar when a large sign in the front of the shop said non-Muslims were forbidden 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”.

Sultan Ibrahim said he was not satisfied with the fact that the owner has now replaced his Muslim-only sign with a “Muslim-friendly” one, following the controversy.

“Don’t try to be clever. It’s still the same. The owner needs to have his brains cleaned up,” he said.

“I want to put a stop to such extremism. Extremism has no place in my state. We take pride in being Bangsa Johor and I want to know where the owner of this launderette learnt his Islam?

“Islam teaches the faithful to be tolerant and respect other people and faiths,” he said at Istana Bukit Serene, Johor Baru, yesterday.

The sultan said mosques in Johor were open to non-Muslims, for example, as long as they were properly dressed and he could not imagine non-Muslims being banned from entering them.

“I wonder where this launderette owner washes his clothes when he is overseas? Is he saying only the clothes of Muslims are clean and those of non-Muslims are unclean? That’s what he means, I believe.”

The sultan has directed the state executive council and all local councils to revoke the licence of any business which “carry out such blatant discriminatory practices”, the paper said.

He said he also did not want other races to carry out similar actions. – September 27, 2017.