Daily operation to catch those who skip fasting

MELAKA: The Melaka Islamic Religious Department (JAIM) will conduct daily operations during the month of Ramadan to prevent Muslims in the state from eating, drinking and smoking in public during daytime.

JAIM enforcement division operations unit chief Noraminuddin Aziz said five or six JAIM officers would carry out the monitoring in rotation on premises suspected of being ''hotbeds'' for Muslims who did not fast.

According to him, those caught would be given a summons notice and they would then have to go to the JAIM office to facilitate investigations under Section 49 of the Syariah Offences Enactment of Melaka 1991 for the offence of selling and eating food during Ramadan.

"In addition, Muslims found eating, drinking and smoking in public places can also be prosecuted under Section 49 of the same enactment with a maximum fine of RM1,000 or imprisonment up to six months, or both.

"For the offence of smoking tobacco or cigarettes during the day, they can be fined up to RM500 or jailed up to three months," he said after examining 15 food outlets in the state determined as ''ports'' for those planning to skip fasting yesterday.

In the meantime, Noraminuddin also sought cooperation from all parties, including restaurant operators and hawkers to avoid selling food too early before sunset in the month of Ramadan. – Bernama