Launderette will change ‘marketing strategy’
KANGAR: The operator of a selfservice launderette here which served only Muslims customers, has agreed to change his “marketing strategy” following advice from Perlis Mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin.
The launderette operator, who wished to be known only as Shalihuddin, 36, explained that he did not intend to stir up racial or religious sensitivities by putting up a notice that the services were “dedicated for Muslim use only”.
He claimed that the move was merely a marketing strategy for his two-month-old launderette here in Jalan Kampung Bakau.
“I had no intention at all of stirring up racial or religious sensitivities. It was merely a marketing strategy as the majority of the people in Perlis are Muslims... there was no intention to discriminate others,” he said.
Shalihuddin, who hailed from Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, said as there were many other launderette service providers in Perlis, he had wanted to offer a niche service for Muslims to do their laundry without any doubts on its cleanliness.
He said he had received phone calls from non-Muslim consumers who wished to confirm whether they could use the service at his premises.
“I explained to them that my self-service launderette was meant for Muslims only, and I had forwarded them contact numbers of other ‘universal’ launderette service providers.
“I wish to stress that the Muslim-only service was a marketing strategy.
“However, I agree that it should be amended if it upsets our multiethnic society.
“I am also willing to cooperate with all quarters, including the authorities, so that Islam will not be misunderstood as being shallow and exclusive only to certain races,” he said.
Checks at the premises this morning showed that the operator had covered the notice at the shop, which had read that it was meant for Muslim customers only.
Asri said the state mufti office held a discussion with the operator, who agreed to no longer limit his services to only Muslim consumers.
He said the operator explained that he did not perceive nonMuslims as being “impure”.
“He explained that it was more of a marketing strategy, to offer a niche service. However, he has agreed to follow our advice,” the mufti said in a text message reply on the issue.
Asri added that Islam was a universal religion and that Islamic laws were meant to make things simple, not complicate things.
“I wish to advise Muslims that if something is clean and there is no sign of ‘najis’ in terms of colour, smell or taste, it is deemed as clean,” he said.