PARLIAMENT | Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz has denied that the government revoked the liquor licence measure for restaurants and coffee shops to sell alcohol, as claimed by Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong on Tuesday.
He said the power to license or exempt retail premises from selling alcoholic drinks remains with the state and that the federal government has no plans to change any measures for now.
“The allegations that the Finance Ministry revoked these powers are not true.
“There was some confusion that arose in the implementation and enforcement at the state level.
“As such, I have instructed the Customs Department to take immediate action to ensure this confusion does not arise again and the licensing for the sale of alcoholic drinks remains under the jurisdiction of the Licensing Board.
“Up till now, there have been no changes made to the authority (of the state),” Zafrul (above) said in the Dewan Rakyat during Minister’s Question Time today.
He was responding to Tony Pua (Pakatan Harapan-Damansara) who had asked for the government’s justification for mandating the liquor licence measure for restaurants and coffee shops to sell alcohol.
Zafrul explained that while the licensing for the sale of alcoholic drinks falls under the jurisdiction of the Licensing Board, the authority had been delegated to the states’ menteris besar and or chief ministers through a government order in 1977.
“As such, any issues related to the licensing or exemptions from licensing is fully subject to the state’s powers,” he said.
Confusion will be resolved
Zafrul also assured the confusion surrounding this matter will be resolved by the end of this year.
However, Pua raised concerns that the states or local authorities would decide to go ahead with the liquor licence measure as the prerogative is in their hands.
He questioned why the Finance Ministry did not simply revoke the measure, as opposed to delegating the authority to the states.
Zafrul responded that the government has no plans to rescind any approvals for now.
Wee had said the Customs Department had been ordered to revoke the liquor licence measure for restaurants and coffee shops to sell alcohol.
He claimed he had contacted Zafrul who confirmed that his ministry has ordered the Customs Department to revoke the measure.
Previously, it was reported that restaurants and coffee shops selling beer will be required to apply for a new licence from Jan 1 as part of a new federal government policy.
Annual licence fees between RM840 and RM1,320 would be charged to the businesses depending on operation hours. - Mkini
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