What a royal rebuke and politicians’ silence over ‘Muslim-only’ laundromat say about Malaysia

The launderette’s owner incurred social media outrage for turning away non-Muslims over “hygiene factors”, and leaders from the Malay Muslim-dominated government initially kept quiet on the issue. But that changed when Sultan Ibrahim Ismail of Johor tore into the business.

“I cannot accept this nonsense. This is Johor, which belongs to Bangsa Johor [the citizens of Johor] and it belongs to all races and faiths. This is a progressive, modern and moderate state,” the ruler told local daily The Star. “This is not a Taliban state and as the head of Islam in Johor, I find this action to be totally unacceptable as this is extremist in nature.”

The laundry, in the township of Muar, courted controversy after photographs of its signboard with the words went viral on Facebook. The sign read: “For Muslim customers only. Muslim-friendly. Leave your shoes outside.”

More than 60 per cent of Malaysia’s population are ethnic Malay-Muslims accorded with “Bumiputra” (sons of the soil) privileges under the constitution.