Brunei to non-Muslims: We will impose Sharia law on you
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Tags: Brunei, non-halal, Ramadhan, Sharia Law, Sharia police, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei, Syariah Penal Code Order
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A non-halal restaurant in Kuala Belait, the nearest Bruneian town to Miri, received a verbal warning for serving food to dine-in customers during the fasting hours of Ramadhan yesterday. When contacted by The Brunei Times, the restaurant’s employee said religious enforcers visited the premises around 10am. The employee, who did not want to be named, said the officials told them they can only serve food when Maghrib prayers approach – about 6pm onwards. This is despite that their customers are non Muslims.
The female employee said the restaurant was not aware of a provision under Syariah Penal Code Order, which prohibits restaurants from serving food to daytime diners during Ramadhan, and thus were just given a warning not to commit the offence again. “They explained to us, the staff and some of the customers, that food cannot be served (during daytime) but customers can still order and take away food,” the employee said. She added that for better dissemination, formal letters should be sent to all restaurants to inform them of the rules.
The letters should be sent at least three days before the rule is enforced. “Not to say the media announcement is not enough, but the letter is black and white. This way, we can also display it on our windows so our customers are informed,” she added. The employee said the non-halal restaurant has been operating in Kuala Belait for almost 10 years. She further expressed her concerns whether the restaurant would be able to cope with the rental fees and workers’ wages as they could not serve dine-in customers for the whole month.
A video allegedly showing authorities inspecting the non-halal restaurant had also been making the rounds on WhatsApp. Under Section 195 of the Syariah Penal Code Order, it is illegal for any person to sell or serve any food, drink or tobacco for immediate consumption in a public place during the fasting hours of Ramadhan. Those found guilty, be it Muslims, non-Muslims, locals, foreigners or tourists, could face a maximum fine of $4,000, imprisonment for up to a year or both.
Are western fast food outlets such as McD & KFC complying with these rules as well ? The majority in Brunei are now imposing their religious will and views on the minority. This is their justice from their warped sense of fair play.
Now they tell you consuming and serving non-halal food to non believers in public is disrespectful to their holy month. don’t be surprised one day they feel justified to tell you and impose on you that selling of non-halal food in any month also is an affront to their religion and ultimately they will nod their head in agreement that to have non believers in their midst is too an affront to their religion and out will come the sword to force you to choose between their religion or death. Shariah law is just something else, it’s me or the sharp edge of my sword.