MELAKA: Six hawkers seeking to make a quick buck by selling food to Muslim customers as early as 9am faced the consequences after enforcement officers from the Melaka Religious Department (JAIM) conducted a raid.
Melaka education, higher education and religious affairs committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman said nine individuals aged from their 20s to their 40s were detained during the operation at about 11.10am last Thursday (March 5) at a food court in Ayer Keroh, here.
"Checks revealed that the traders had begun selling food as early as 9am to customers despite being aware that the act constitutes an offence.
“We are disappointed with the attitude of those who disregard the sensitivities of the holy month purely in pursuit of profit,” he said in an interview on Sunday (March 8).
Rahmad said the nine individuals comprised six men and three women were issued notices to attend proceedings for allegedly breaching Section 49 of the Melaka Syariah Offences Enactment 1991.
He added that among those detained were three customers who were suspected of deliberately not observing the fast.
“The majority of them are self-employed while the rest work in the private sector and three of the patrons were unable to provide reasonable explanations for committing the offence,” he said.
Under Section 49 of the enactment, eating, drinking or selling food to Muslims during daylight hours in Ramadan for immediate consumption is an offence punishable by a fine of up to RM1,000 or imprisonment of up to six months.
For repeat offences, the penalty increases to a fine of up to RM2,000 or imprisonment of up to 12 months, while those found smoking during fasting hours may face a fine of up to RM500 or imprisonment of up to three months.
Rahmad said JAIM would continue intensifying monitoring operations at several locations until the end of Ramadan month to ensure compliance with the state’s Syariah laws.
