The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has announced the freezing of all new applications for liquor licences effective immediately.
"This is to inform you that all new applications for liquor licences are frozen with immediate effect.
"Punitive action will be taken against premises that sell liquor without a licence," said DBKL's Licensing Department in a statement today.
Earlier, Minister of Housing and Local Government Zuraida Kamaruddin had said her ministry was ready to consider the proposal for local authorities to suspend new liquor licences following recent fatal road accidents involving drunk drivers.
Zuraida (below) said the decision to suspend the licence had to be carefully made because it involved a long time and could not be made ad hoc.
"The decision falls within the jurisdiction of local authorities. We have to look at statistics (overall) involving (road) accidents caused by alcohol.
"We cannot blindly impose an ad hoc law... the government should consider the future," she told reporters at a function in Langkap, Teluk Intan, Perak.
Zuraida said the Transport Ministry and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) are currently investigating several issues related to alcohol sales that need to be addressed in law enforcement, and sanctions that need to be reviewed.
Recently, there have been more cases of road accidents involving drunk drivers that have led to death.
Regarding existing licence holders who wish to apply for renewals, a DBKL officer told Malaysiakini that a decision had yet to be reached but the matter would be discussed at a meeting on Thursday. - Mkini
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