PETALING JAYA: Restrictions on the sale of alcohol imposed by the Customs Department must be reconsidered, mentioned MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon.
He mentioned the restrictions not solely impinged on the freedom of non-Muslims, however elevated the monetary burden on espresso retailers and restaurant operators.
“This is counter-intuitive to the government’s efforts to resuscitate our nation’s economy.
“The unreasonable directives on alcohol sale restrictions impinged on the Constitutional freedoms and lifestyle choices of non-Muslims.
“We urge the government to reconsider as these directives are not in line with the multiracial composition of our nation. We cannot allow our country’s system of democracy, constitutional freedoms and moderation to increasingly turn conservative without taking into consideration of others,” he mentioned in a press release yesterday.
Chong emphasised that MCA was not encouraging folks to drink, nor believed the consuming tradition was half of the non-Muslim identification.“However, non-Muslims have the Constitutional right and freedom to choose whether to drink or not.
“The freedom for non-Muslims to choose their own lifestyles is guaranteed in our Federal Constitution.
“The government cannot hinder nor violate these Constitutional freedoms of non-Muslims.
“The beliefs of another religion cannot and must not be coerced unto adherents of other faiths through official government policies and rulings,” he mentioned.
He quoted a media report on Dec 3 stating the Perlis Customs Department stipulated that espresso retailers, accommodations and eating places are required to have a liquor licence from subsequent yr earlier than clients are allowed to drink on the premises.According to the classification of the liquor licences, there’s a stipulation on the occasions that liquor might be allowed to be offered, whereas liquor gross sales are restricted to solely 27 litres or 4 cartons of beer per day.
Additionally, the media additionally reported the Customs Department required espresso retailers and eating places nationwide to use for liquor licences from Jan 1, 2022, additionally in accordance with the classification of liquor licences.
Chong mentioned these measures to limit alcohol gross sales not solely point out that authorities insurance policies and laws are veering in the direction of spiritual conservatism, however additionally they erode the freedom of non-Muslim companies and shoppers to promote, buy and drink alcohol.
“They also affect businesses which have long been hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and regulatory directives issued earlier.
“Besides increasing their operating costs, these policies are not conducive for the recovery of the food and beverage and their related industries whilst they undermine the pace of our nation’s economic recovery.
“Nothing meaningful emerges from these alcohol sales restrictions.
“These curbs are in fact hindering freedom besides interfering with the customary lifestyle of non-Muslims,” he famous.
Meanwhile Malaysia-Singapore Coffeeshop Proprietors Association president Wong Teu Hoon mentioned the ruling would place a heavy burden on them as they’d even have to extend the value of drinks to bolster the growing value of uncooked elements.
