Labuan PBS rejects call for liquor ban

 

Labuan’s economy is just restarting from the impact caused by Covid-19, hence any ban would be yet another setback, say locals. (Bernama pic)

KOTA KINABALU: A PAS call for a liquor ban in Labuan has prompted a leader from a component party in the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition to raise the fear of an economic setback for the island.

“Labuan is not as vibrant as KL,” said Labuan PBS chief Peter Mak in reaction to Labuan PAS chief Hamir Zahari’s proposal that authorities on the duty-free island follow Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s example by blocking the sale of liquor at sundry shops.

In Kuala Lumpur, liquor sales at grocery and convenience stores and Chinese medical halls have been banned since Nov 1.

Mak said, however, that instead of following KL’s example, the authorities in Labuan should think of ways to improve business for the sake of the local community.

“With tobacco products already listed as taxable goods on the country’s duty-free islands, business owners will suffer even more if a liquor ban was imposed as well,” he added.

In making his proposal, Hamir, who is also deputy chairman of the Labuan Corporation advisory council, said an alcohol ban would curb accidents caused by drink driving, incidences of moral depravity and domestic violence as well as alcohol addiction.

Daniel Doughty, an island resident known for his work with the Labuan Economic Sector Coalition initiative, said he was disappointed with Hamir for his statement.

He said Labuan needed its own approach and leadership mindset to manage problems related to alcohol addiction.

“This is because Labuan is small and manageable compared with large cities like KL,” he told FMT.

“Hamir needs to prove that his copy-and-paste approach will be a winnable solution for all concerned parties. Not everything copied from elsewhere is the best solution for Labuan.

“It’s as if he is out of touch and doesn’t understand that Labuan’s economy has just started to get going again after dealing with Covid-19.”

Doughty challenged Hamir to back his claim that alcohol has been the cause of many accidents and social ills in Labuan.

Civil rights activist Beverly Joeman said Hamir’s proposal bordered on “imposing PAS’ extremism” on non-Muslims.

“I wish PAS would have the same vicious tenacity to speak up on child marriages, paedophilia, corruption, deforestation, domestic violence, the Orang Asli’s native land rights, poverty and other more serious issues that are detrimental and damaging to society’s well-being,” she told FMT.

She said the assumption made by Hamir that these measures could help reduce the increasing accident rate as a result of drunk driving, social ills and alcohol addiction among the youth was just another excuse to undermine young people’s rights.

“PAS must learn to respect the rights of other citizens, not destroy Malaysian unity,” she said.

“This certainly does not go well with the prime minister’s Keluarga Malaysia spirit.” - FMT