KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 ― A federal DAP lawmaker today urged the Selangor government to direct the Petaling District Licensing Council to call off its ban on the sale of alcoholic items in Chinese medicine shops, labelling the prohibition “unreasonable, unnecessary and unacceptable”.
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok insisted that the directive was not in line with state policy, pointing out that back in 2008, the then Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had rejected the suggestion to impose a similar ban.
She asked if the council was aware of the 2008 decision, as well as the remarks by PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in 2009 that the current policy in Selangor would continue as it had been approved by the leadership of Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
“Weren’t they aware that Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim who was present at the same event also reiterated that there was no ban on alcohol sale in Selangor but said stores could practise self-regulation at Muslim-majority areas.
“So if there is any problem with non medicinal liquor sale at traditional Chinese medicine shops, the council ought to adopt the enforcement and regulation approaches adopted by the state government,” she said.
Kok also slammed MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong for criticising PR for the ban and for citing the pact’s opposition to a similar directive in Malacca as an example of alleged double standards.
She said Wee should be aware that the members of the licensing council are largely civil servants and the Selangor government played no part in its decision.
“I wish to warn MCA Deputy President Datuk Wee Ka Siong to be more responsible when commenting on the issue,” she said.
In a letter sighted by Malay Mail Online that was sent to traditional Chinese medicine vendors dated March 11, 2015, the Petaling District Alcohol License Committee warned that the sale of non-medicinal forms of alcohol was strictly prohibited in accordance to the committee’s decision dated January 21, 2015.
The letter also stated that if vendors did not abide by the ban, their alcohol licenses would be revoked.
Yesterday, Selangor Local Government, New Village Development, and Legalising of Factories committee chairman Ean Yong Hian Wah told Malay Mail Online that the state government had nothing to do with the decision.
He explained that the decision was made by the Alcohol License Committee under the District Office, which is chaired by a district officer.
Yong explained that the committee comprises various government officials, including those from the Royal Malaysia Police force and the Customs Department.
“The state doesn’t have a policy to ban alcohol and we didn’t instruct them to make such decision,
“It has already been decided but I know it has received many comments and opposing views and I myself also feel it’s not proper,” he said.
He added that there will be a state assembly meeting next Wednesday to discuss the directive.
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