Focus on graft and drug woes, not liquor policy, Mujahid told

 

Chandra Muzzafar (left) says politicians such as Mujahid Yusof Rawa should be more concerned about issues like drug addition and rampant corruption.

PETALING JAYA: Amanah vice-president Mujahid Yusof Rawa should focus on bigger issues affecting society instead of a “liquor policy”, says a social activist.

Chandra Muzaffar said these issues include the decades-old drug problem, rampant corruption, the widening wealth gap and growing racial and religious polarisation.

He also said any proposed policy to restrict the involvement of Muslims in the manufacturing, transport, sale or serving of alcoholic drinks must take the views of the workers involved into consideration.

“This is their livelihood and they are in a better position to decide if they should be in this business or not,” he told FMT.

He was commenting on remarks by Rosli Affandi, secretary-general of the National Union of Hotel, Bar and Restaurant Workers Peninsular Malaysia, on Mujahid’s proposal.

Rosli had said the majority of the people in the food industry were Malays, and the introduction of a new “liquor policy” would affect their livelihoods.

Chandra said instead of a “liquor policy”, the Amanah leadership and Muslim leaders should be more concerned about the drug situation in the country.

“The majority of drug users in the country are Malay Muslims. Regardless of who the victims are, the drug problem is a major national challenge,” he said.

According to government statistics, some 79.8% of drug users in 2019 came from the community.

“We should also be concerned about the prevalence of corruption. Political parties, in particular, should be looking into this and coming up with solutions to this problem,” he said.

Chandra also spoke of the growing wealth gap within all communities, saying it was not just an issue limited to disparities among the different races.

“We need to focus on closing the wealth gap within each community. People forget that disparities are getting wider,” he said.

On growing polarisation, Chandra said unity was vital for Malaysia and that the survival and success of the country depended on the different communities coming together.

“These are the things we should be focusing on instead of a liquor policy,” he said. - FMT