FT MIC welcomes new liquor guidelines in Kuala Lumpur

 

Federal Territory MIC is backing Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) decision to introduce new guidelines on liquor licenses, saying that easy access to alcohol is allowing social ills to flourish.

Its information chief, DR Pala Kumaran said the new guidelines were a necessity in Kuala Lumpur as the developing city could not escape the social problems that existed due to irresponsible alcohol consumers.

"Some of those (consuming alcohol) are also directly or indirectly involved in domestic and civil crime for which there is no solution.

"One of the reasons for this issue is that it is very easy to get samsu or other alcoholic beverages in shops near residential areas. Not only adults but a handful of young people are also slaves to this alcoholic beverage.

"As a result, not only is their health affected, but they are also marginalised from the development of the country because they are being controlled by substance abuse," he said in a statement today.

On Nov 16, DBKL introduced new guidelines on liquor licenses which, among other things, the guidelines stipulate that grocery stores and convenience stores will no longer be allowed to sell liquor products from Oct 1 next year.

Stores selling traditional Chinese medicine were also subject to the ban, but exceptions were made for liquor products for "traditional medicinal purposes".

The new guidelines also stipulate a complete ban on samsu sales from Dec 15, 2020.

However, some involved in the industry have objected to the new guidelines, saying that they will have a negative impact on the economy already affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.

According to Pala Kumaran, MIC welcomes the decision and emphasises that the party has been actively campaigning for the past few decades to eliminate the widespread sale of illegal samsu and alcohol in the state.

"Under the leadership of former president S Samy Vellu, the party has submitted several memoranda to DBKL and the relevant ministries for this purpose.

"Furthermore, MIC representatives in the DBKL Advisory Board and Excise Board often highlight the need to tighten the rules on the sale of samsu and alcohol in Kuala Lumpur.

"MIC's commitment in this issue had borne fruit when DBKL introduced the new Liquor License (LMK) Guidelines this month," he said. - Mkini