PAS calls for alcohol-free MAS flights

PAS Youth deputy chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari says Malaysia should emulate airlines in other Muslim countries that do not serve alcohol on board their planes.

PETALING JAYA: PAS wants the government to remove alcohol from the menu on board Malaysia Airlines flights after a disruptive drunk passenger caused a MAS plane to turn back to Melbourne last night.

“The government should emulate Middle East countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Bahrain and a few other countries that are more stringent on the issue.

“Even a tiny country like Brunei is more daring in banning the serving of alcoholic drinks on board Royal Brunei Airlines flights,” said PAS Youth deputy chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari.

Deputy transport minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said yesterday the disruptive passenger, identified as a 25-year-old Sri Lankan man, was believed to have been drunk.

Australian police said the passenger was released from a psychiatric facility hours before he boarded the plane yesterday.

MAS flight MH128 left Melbourne Airport at 11.11pm and was to arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 5.28am today, June 1, but made a turn back to Melbourne after the operating captain was alerted by a cabin crew of a passenger attempting to enter the cockpit, Malaysia Airlines said.

The Sri Lankan national, who was overpowered by crew and other passengers, had allegedly threatened to blow up the plane but the device he claimed to be an explosive turned out to be a powerbank.

Ahmad Fadhli said a ban on serving alcohol on MAS fights would bring “blessings” as alcohol was damned in Islam.

“As a nation led by a Muslim prime minister, now is the time to make changes if we truly want to change,” he said. FMT