THE Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAIPP) is investigating the involvement of Muslim hotel employees in a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme that included cleaning a Hindu temple in Jalan Dato Keramat, George Town. The department said 20 employees took part in the activity, which drew attention after a video of the clean-up went viral on social media on 8 October, The Vibes reported.
JHEAIPP’s enforcement division and the police met the hotel’s management on 14 October to seek clarification on the programme, the tasks assigned to Muslim employees and whether religious sensitivities had been taken into account. The department said the hotel management cooperated during the meeting.
As a follow-up, JHEAIPP will guide the Muslim employees involved on safeguarding their faith and the limits of participation in activities at non-Muslim places of worship. It also plans an advocacy programme for the hotel’s management and staff on 20 October to improve their understanding of the issue and prevent similar incidents from recurring.
The case sits under a ruling issued by Penang Mufti Mohd Sukki Othman on 12 October, which states that it is haram for Muslims to take part in cleaning activities directly involving areas or facilities used for the worship of other religions. The ruling covers cleaning idols, altars and ritual equipment, and cites verse two of Surah al-Ma’idah, which calls on Muslims to cooperate in righteousness and piety and not in sin or transgression.
General community clean-ups, which The Rakyat Post listed as clearing drains, collecting rubbish in neighbourhoods and helping flood victims, remain permissible provided no religious rituals are involved. The Penang Island Mufti Department said the restriction does not bar Muslims from assisting non-Muslim communities in matters of humanity, welfare and security, and urged organisations to weigh religious sensitivities when planning interfaith activities.
Federal Territories Mufti Ahmad Fauwaz Fadzil addressed the issue in a Facebook post, saying that cleaning a temple is not an act of worship but still breaches the limits set by Islamic law when it assists religious practices prohibited to Muslims. “Cleaning a temple is indeed not an act of worship, but it amounts to helping towards something prohibited, as it is a place of worship for another religion,” he said.
Ahmad Fauwaz said Muslims should not involve themselves in the religious affairs of other faiths, particularly activities connected to their places of worship. At the same time, he said Islam does not prohibit Muslims from helping non-Muslims when the assistance is unrelated to their religious practices or symbols. “Serving non-Muslims in ways that are not part of their religious symbols or practices is commendable and permissible,” he said, without referring specifically to the incident in Penang. The Federal Territories Mufti Department had issued a similar explanation in January 2022.
JHEAIPP said it supports CSR initiatives that benefit the community, but stressed that organisers must ensure activities respect religious sensitivities and comply with Islamic law. “Any doubts should be referred to the relevant religious authorities,” it said, adding that it would continue education, advocacy and monitoring work, as well as enforcement under existing laws. The department also urged the public not to speculate or pass judgement on those involved before the assessment is complete, saying this was needed to safeguard the sanctity of Islam while maintaining harmony in Malaysia’s multireligious society.
