Terengganu government officials today defended the plan to distribute revenue collected from un-Islamic businesses such as the sale of liquor, pig rearing and pawnshops to non-Muslims in the state.

They said the money - which will be chanelled to a special fund called Wisma Darul Iman fund - is one of the many steps undertaken to alleviate the financial burden of the non-Muslim community.

Ng Chai Hing, the special assistant to Terengganu Mentri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang, said there was no reason for non-Muslims to feel insulted by the move but instead should view this aid in a positive manner

"The state had decided to specially allocate the fund to the non-Muslim community because the needy Muslims already have zakat (tithe) to help them.

"Furthermore, the revenue is extracted from activities that is prohibited in Islam and therefore cannot be used for the Muslims," he said when contacted.

Ng was reacting to the statement made by MCA Terengganu chairperson Lau Yin Pin who was quoted by an English daily as saying that the PAS-led government was ridiculing non-Muslims by allocating the revenue to them.

Lau said disbursing the money - which he termed as 'sin money' - to non-Muslims would imply that they were sinners.

Responding to this, Ng said labelling the fund as 'sin money' was uncalled for and dismissed it as another attempt by MCA to discredit the state government.

"The money is not from vice activities. Again I stress it is money from activities prohibited in Islam... so please understand the state's good intention," he added.

Be more 'tactful'

Meanwhile, Kuala Terengganu MP Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad said the state government does not intend to insult the non-Muslims and added that they also received other forms of aid.

"They are also given assistance similar to the ones received by the Muslims like housing, education and welfare. The fund is just an extra fund for the non-Muslims.

"We also want to be transparent in our administration as we are accountable to ensure that the monies given to the Muslims came from activities which are acceptable by Islam," he added.

He also denied that the state government was the first to describe the fund as 'sin money' and explained that Abdul Hadi had merely stated it as money garnered from activities that were haram (prohibited) in Islam.

"I think it's just a misinterpretation. Our critics can certainly use a bad interpretation for their benefit and the media can always play it up. But I can assure you that the state had no ill intention towards the non-Muslims," he said.

When contacted for comment, a Chinese resident in the state, ST Toh said he understands the state good intentions but added that it should be more "tactful".

"It's as if to say that the money which is sinful to the Muslims is only deserving to non-Muslims. It would be better if they had just given us the aid without saying where the money had came from.

"Sometimes although they mean well, we know that, but well... we can't stop feeling this way. Maybe the state government should explain further rather than assuming that we would welcome such aid," he said.