Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim today moved to tighten the tap on a running debate between his state cabinet members over the state's decision to limit the sale of alcohol.

Government officials will also be gagged from talking publicly about the matter, to avoid "further confusion" over the issue.

khalid ibrahim on klang bas terminal 090109 03 Khalid said he is personally overseeing the final touches of the state government policy to limit alcohol sales and promised to come up with a solution by Friday.

"I'm tasked to solve the problem of the implementation (of the policy). It is an administrative mechanism," he told reporters after chairing a six-hour state executive council meeting in Shah Alam.

"All parties agree that the best way to do it is to find a fair mechanism, taking into account the needs of the public and also to respect the cultural and religious views (of the citizens)".

Selangor's new policy is targeted at the selling of beer and other alcoholic drinks at convenience stores and mini markets, which makes the beverage accessible to everyone.

It is believed that the state administration also wants to enact rules that forbid Muslims from handling such products.

Yesterday, Selangor exco member and PAS Selangor chief Hassan Ali raised eyebrows after he called on the state government to enact a blanket ban on 24-convenience in ‘Muslim majority' areas from selling alcohol.

‘No rift in Pakatan'

Hassan also accused his state cabinet colleague Ronnie Liu, who is in charge of local councils, of interfering with several local councils who raided convenience stalls selling alcohol.

Khalid today downplayed any possible rift between Hassan, a known religious conservative, and Liu, a DAP veteran. Khalid also refused to comment when asked several times if Liu had the right to interfere with local council affairs.

"Once we solve this problem (on the confusion of sale of alcohol) there is no issue," he said.

Asked if there were better channels for Selangor Pakatan Rakyat leaders to resolve their differences, Khalid said public spats were nothing abnormal.

"However, we are now more understanding. There are things that we may have to discuss within (our internal) channels, as opposed to using the press," he said.

Hassan's outburst against Liu was the second time a top Selangor Pakatan leader attacked Khalid's state cabinet.

In the Selangor state assembly in early July, backbenchers club head Azmin Ali had demanded Khalid reshuffle his cabinet .

Though it was never mentioned, it is believed that Azmin has a rift with certain DAP leaders.