Umno Youth wants federal law to regulate sales and consumption of alcohol

Umno Youth wants Putrajaya to introduce a federal law to regulate the sales and consumption of alcohol instead of leaving the matter for local councils to decide.

Its chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the current decentralised arrangement made it difficult to regulate alcohol amid a spat of deadly accidents caused by drunk drivers.

"In the long term, it is time for the federal government to address this issue holistically by filling the legal gaps with the introduction of an Act that strictly regulates the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages.

"The absence of a specific law to regulate the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages at the federal level, apart from local council laws, surely complicates holistic and standardised enforcement and prevention efforts," Asyraf (above) said in a statement.

He pointed out that even developed countries like Singapore have curbs on consuming alcohol after 10.30pm.

He proposed a special committee comprising various ministries including the Transport Ministry as well as state governments to study the matter to draft the new law.

He said apart from regulating the sales and consumption of alcohol, the government must also step up awareness and education campaigns.

In the near term, Asyraf also called for tough punishment against drunk drivers.

He noted that Section 44(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 provides for a punishment of between three to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of RM8,000 to RM20,000 on drunk drivers.

"However, recent developments show drunk drivers do not fear it at all and the punishment also does not seem to commensurate with the loss of life and livelihood suffered by the victim's family.

"In the near term, Umno Youth demands that amendments are made to the Road Transport Act 1987 as raised by Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong.

"It should be a key motion after the debate on the royal address when parliament convenes on July 13," he said.

Yesterday, PAS information chief Kamaruzaman Mohamad also called for the production and sale of alcoholic beverages to be suspended until the issue of drunk driving is resolved.

Meanwhile, Sarawak PKR chief Larry Sng criticised PAS' proposal, calling it an attempt to impose hudud in the country.

"First they suggest that people should not drink, I won't be surprised later that they will tell us what we can and cannot do in every other aspect of our lives.

"This is the consequence of PAS running the country," he said in a statement.

He also questioned why GPS, which leads the Sarawak government and is PAS' coalition partner at the federal level, has not taken a stand on the matter.

"They are more concerned about positions and remaining in the federal government with PAS," he said. - Mkini