SHAH ALAM: Proprietors of convenience stores here have agreed to self-regulate the sale of beer to ensure the beverage is not sold to Muslims and minors, especially in Muslim majority areas.
Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said there would be no ban on the sale of beer and the current restrictions on the sale of beer to Muslims and minors still stand.
The mentri besar made the announcement today after lengthy discussions with convenience store operators including 7-Eleven, 99 Speedmart and KK Mart along with officials from the state and the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA).
Khalid said proper guidelines to tighten restrictions to ensure beer is not sold to Muslims will be issued in one month.
However the move may not be enough to satisfy hardliners in PAS, who have been calling for an outright ban on the sale of beer in all Muslim majority areas in Selangor.
PAS Commissioner Datuk Hassan Ali on Tuesday lashed out at his executive council colleague Ronnie Liu for reprimanding MBSA officers who unlawfully seized beer from a 7-Eleven outlet located near a surau in Section 8.
Hassan alleged that Liu, who is in charge of local government, had exceeded his jurisdiction for ordering that the beer be returned and that PAS Selangor was fully behind the actions of MBSA.
Liu denied giving the order but said the decision was made by MBSA, who acknowledged the seizure was illegal because there are no by-laws which empowers local council enforcement officers to seize beer.
This has been confirmed by MBSA mayor Mazalan Md Noor who said beer can only be seized if it was being sold to Muslims and those below 18-years-old.
PAS has demanded Liu be stripped of his local council portfolio and have threatened to launch state wide demonstration to compel the state to impose the ban.
UMNO has also joined the bandwagon and have openly expressed support for the ban and for Liu’s removal.
The call for the beer ban in Muslim majority areas is raising concerns among non-Muslims that it is a move which will erode the rights of minorities.
The self-regulation approach includes no displaying of alcohol or beer in stores and these will only be made available upon request at the payment counter.
This self-regulation will be observed in tandem with existing regulations.
The impact of self-regulation will be monitored before standardised guidelines are formulated.
“This is the best solution for the state in addressing the issue at hand. We believe this approach can curb social ills caused by abuse of alcohol and will deter students and young people from purchasing
alcoholic drinks,” said Khalid.
Khalid called on all parties to respect the decision reached today and urged those who had been politicising the issue to stop creating confusion among the state’s multi-racial society.
“We understand the religious concerns about drinking and the social ills caused by alcohol abuse.”
Khalid added that imposing more rules and regulations may not be effective and counter-productive.
During the meeting earlier, all store operators said they have been sensitive to the concerns of Muslims.
He said 7-Eleven had already stopped the sale of alcoholic drinks in 10 of their 17 outlets in Shah Alam two days ago.
MI
07/08/09
Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said there would be no ban on the sale of beer and the current restrictions on the sale of beer to Muslims and minors still stand.
The mentri besar made the announcement today after lengthy discussions with convenience store operators including 7-Eleven, 99 Speedmart and KK Mart along with officials from the state and the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA).
Khalid said proper guidelines to tighten restrictions to ensure beer is not sold to Muslims will be issued in one month.
However the move may not be enough to satisfy hardliners in PAS, who have been calling for an outright ban on the sale of beer in all Muslim majority areas in Selangor.
PAS Commissioner Datuk Hassan Ali on Tuesday lashed out at his executive council colleague Ronnie Liu for reprimanding MBSA officers who unlawfully seized beer from a 7-Eleven outlet located near a surau in Section 8.
Hassan alleged that Liu, who is in charge of local government, had exceeded his jurisdiction for ordering that the beer be returned and that PAS Selangor was fully behind the actions of MBSA.
Liu denied giving the order but said the decision was made by MBSA, who acknowledged the seizure was illegal because there are no by-laws which empowers local council enforcement officers to seize beer.
This has been confirmed by MBSA mayor Mazalan Md Noor who said beer can only be seized if it was being sold to Muslims and those below 18-years-old.
PAS has demanded Liu be stripped of his local council portfolio and have threatened to launch state wide demonstration to compel the state to impose the ban.
UMNO has also joined the bandwagon and have openly expressed support for the ban and for Liu’s removal.
The call for the beer ban in Muslim majority areas is raising concerns among non-Muslims that it is a move which will erode the rights of minorities.
The self-regulation approach includes no displaying of alcohol or beer in stores and these will only be made available upon request at the payment counter.
This self-regulation will be observed in tandem with existing regulations.
The impact of self-regulation will be monitored before standardised guidelines are formulated.
“This is the best solution for the state in addressing the issue at hand. We believe this approach can curb social ills caused by abuse of alcohol and will deter students and young people from purchasing
alcoholic drinks,” said Khalid.
Khalid called on all parties to respect the decision reached today and urged those who had been politicising the issue to stop creating confusion among the state’s multi-racial society.
“We understand the religious concerns about drinking and the social ills caused by alcohol abuse.”
Khalid added that imposing more rules and regulations may not be effective and counter-productive.
During the meeting earlier, all store operators said they have been sensitive to the concerns of Muslims.
He said 7-Eleven had already stopped the sale of alcoholic drinks in 10 of their 17 outlets in Shah Alam two days ago.
MI
07/08/09
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