GEORGE TOWN: The proposal made by a popular actor regarding brothels for foreign workers in the country is inappropriate because it is deemed to encourage immorality.
Penang Mufti Datuk Seri Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor said establishing brothels in this country was contrary to Malaysia's position as a country with Islam as the federal religion in the Constitution.
He said foreign workers needed to be informed about the matter and they must respect the Constitution and laws of the country that gave them the opportunity to earn a living.
"I am very surprised by the suggestion by a Muslim actor that brothels should be provided for foreign workers in this country. Such a suggestion is clearly an encouragement to immoral acts when many of the foreign workers are Muslims.
"Even non-Muslim workers should not be encouraged to do such despicable acts. Indeed, no religion likes its followers to fall into this vile and destructive abyss," he said today.
According to Wan Salim, all Muslims know that adultery is a heinous crime because it can cause great damage to individuals, families and society.
"Because of that, the Quran strictly forbids adultery and considers it to be an abominable practice (fahisyah) and the worst path that humans take in this life.
"We should all help each other towards goodness and nobility of character. We should also remind foreign workers of the dangers of engaging in this heinous act and the bad effects it has on all parties," he added.
Wan Salim said it would be very difficult for the authorities to ensure that Muslims are not involved in immorality if the actor's suggestion is implemented.
"No one can guarantee that the people of this country, including Muslims, will not become customers of the proposed brothels. It is very difficult to control or prevent Muslims from getting involved in the scene of immorality.
"I agree that this proposal will not solve the problem but will invite more problems for Malaysia," he stressed.
Senior actor Datuk Rosyam Nor had expressed his personal view when agreeing to the existence of brothels in the country.
Rosyam, or his real name Mohamed Noor Shamsuddin, 57, felt that it could help reduce the increasing number of rape cases involving foreigners.
Worried about the situation, the actor hoped that the existence of brothels could at least deal with the increasing number of sexual crime cases in Malaysia.