UPDATE: The Muslims-only sign has since been covered by a piece of paper. Attempts to contact the owner have not been successful. If this is victory, why does it feel as hollow as a washing machine?
Another day, another laundromat exposed for what some think is a bigoted, Muslims-only policy.
The latest outlet making headlines is in the country’s northern state Perlis, and bills itself as an “Islamic laundry concept.” If by “concept”, you mean widely unpopular and unfounded view that you can politicize and sanctify your washables, then… OK. We’ll let you have “concept”.
After The Star called the owner to clarify his stance on the matter, he confirmed that his establishment was, indeed, for Muslims only. He added that these matters shouldn’t be blown-up to the point of controversy, and that the policy was done for the “comfort” of his Muslim customers.
Progressive Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin had been one of the early critics of a similar headline-making case of Muslims-only laundry in Muar, Johor. In this case, he added that the Raja Muda of Perlis had asked him to personally investigate the situation.
Watch this space for what happens next. The owner of the Muar laundromat got a dressing down from the Sultan of Johor that can only be described as incendiary. He was subsequently forced to cease his practices, and is probably still applying aloe vera to that proverbial burn. Ohhhhhhh.
We’ve said before and we’ll say it again: One love. One Laudry. One Malaysia.
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