Malaysian Launrette Banned Non-Muslim Customers

A Malaysian laundrette that banned non-Muslim customers sparked anger as fears grow of creeping religious conservatism in the multi-ethnic country. The self-service shop in the town of Muar, in the southern state of Johar, put up a sign saying that it would allow only Muslim customers. Malay Muslims make up the majority of Malaysia's approximately 30 million inhabitants but the country is also home to sizable ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities, and restricting shops or services to certain religion is rare. There are other shops available nearby, so it would not be a problem for non Muslims if they needed to find another place to wash their clothes, the laundrette said. Critics say that Malaysia's traditionally tolerant brand of Islam is being eroded by increasingly influential Muslim hardliners. Last week, authorities in Kuala Lumpur canceled an annual beer festival after a religious party warned it would turn the capital into the biggest center of vice in Asia.