Dept S Decision To Again Postpone Ban On Cheap Liquor Shocking

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The Penang Anti-Cheap Liquor Movement is "shocked and disappointed" that the Health Ministry has decided to postpone the banning of compounded hard liquor
Led by DAP Bagan Dalam assemblyperson Satees Muniandy, the movement's chief cited a letter issued by the ministry's Food Safety and Quality Department dated April 22 which states that enforcement under section 386A (2) of the 1985 Food Regulations has been postponed
"The move by the department is a step backwards in our efforts to build a healthy nation," Satees said at a press conference in Prai today
Satees noted that on May 27, 2016, the Health Ministry has gazetted amendments to regulations involving alcoholic drinks under the 1985 Food Regulations
The amendments to section 386A(2) state that compounded hard liquor now could not be placed in a glass bottle with a volume of less than 700ml
"With this law, most of the cheap liquor sold in the market will be wiped out automatically," said Satees, who is also DAP Socialist Youth's international secretary
"This will reduce health and social ills faced by our society due to the consumption of cheap liquor," he added
On Oct 18 last year, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad issued a statement that two sections - 362 and 386A - under the 1985 Food Regulations related to alcohol would be enforced
This, however, was postponed for six months from Nov 1 last year to May 1 this year after appeals were made by the Malaysian Liquor Distillers and Manufacturers Association
"Our question is, for how long will the ministry postpone enforcement to abolish cheap liquor?" asked the movement's secretary David Marshel
"Will it be postponed again when the association submits another appeal in July?" asked Marshel who is a Seberang Perai municipal councillor
"Why is a policy decision which was gazetted in 2016 taking so long to be enforced? Are the health officers aware of the seriousness of the problems faced by the community due to such cheap liquor
"Is the health minister aware of this backward move by his own officers
Please enforce the ban on cheap liquor immediately as it destroys the community," Marshel said. - Mkini

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