Mp Will Govt Support Alcohol Sale Ban In Muslim Areas

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PARLIAMENT | Fawwaz Jan (PN-Permatang Pauh) today asked the government if it will support efforts to stop alcohol sales in Muslim-majority areas.
He told the Dewan Rakyat that it was not strange for Muslims to call for the expansion of the alcohol sales ban considering Allah’s punishment for any transactions involving alcohol.
“Will the government welcome or support any parties in resident associations, masjid committees, who make any effort, whether it is collecting petitions, or reasonable efforts to eradicate the sale of alcohol in their areas, which are in Muslim-majority areas only?” he asked in his speech on the motion of thanks for the royal address.
His comments come amid a plan by the Ipoh City Council (MBI) to expand its ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages in Muslim-majority areas.
Currently, such a policy is enforced only in Manjoi town.
Fawwaz (above) praised Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad for allowing the MBI to conduct a study on expanding the alcohol sales ban.
Manjoi in Ipoh, Perak.He expressed hopes that Perak will follow Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, and Perlis in banning the sale of alcohol in convenience stores.
“However, in Penang, there is still no bold step by any local authority to do so,” he lamented.
Fawwaz further alleged that the expansion of the alcohol sales ban has been blocked by local authorities “dominated” by non-Muslims.
“Even though it (alcohol sales ban) has not been approved by local authorities dominated by non-Muslims, in this august house, I wish to remind how it is the government’s responsibility to provide halal job opportunities to the people,” he said.
He further called for the restructuring of the alcohol industry to prevent Muslims from being involved in any transaction.
To ban or not to ban
ADSLast Tuesday (Jan 28), Saarani said the MBI study would consider various aspects including demographic data and stressed that any decision would only be made after considering public feedback and according to the wishes of the respective locality.
He had been urged by Perak PAS to state his position on the matter after Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming issued a statement claiming there would be no changes to the rules regarding the sale of alcohol.
Nga said the policy on the sale of liquor will be maintained for the sake of harmony between multiracial communities and to avoid political sentiment.
But Perak PAS chief Razman Zakaria insisted that measures to control the sale of alcohol were in line with the spirit of the Constitution which designates Islam as the “religion of the federation”. - Mkini

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