Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has disputed suggestions that Pakatan Rakyat will impose a ban on selling beer in all Muslim-majority areas in Pakatan-ruled states, saying that it was "merely a suggestion".

He said this in response to PAS Youth who had, last Saturday, prepared a paper proposing guidelines on the sale of liquor in Pakatan states.

He explained that such proposals, forwarded two days ago by PAS Youth deputy chief Azman Shapawi, were "only suggestions to be deliberated by the Pakatan leadership".

NONE "So I think whilst we do respect their wishes and sentiments, we should also acknowledge the fact that such issues need to be deliberated at length by the Pakatan leadership," said Anwar (left) after chairing a Pakatan leadership council meeting in Tropicana, Damansara today.

He also said that Pakatan does not want to deny them (PAS Youth) from expressing their views as they are "not compelling us (Pakatan leadership) to act on it.

"So let's take a look at their proposal at our next meeting so we can all have an open mind (on the matter)," he said.

Anwar also denied that Pakatan will eventually consider imposing a ban on these Muslim-majority areas as suggested by the Islamic party.

According to him, the Pakatan leadership has accepted the present policy that is to impose self-regulation on all convenient stores in predominantly Muslim areas.

"We will consider their views but that will not necessarily be any changes at all. We will have a look at their proposal... as of now, there are no changes in the Selangor policy," Anwar added.

Still available at ‘appropriate places'

NONE Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (right) , who also attended the press conference, said that the state government will continue allowing the sale of beer at "appropriate places".

"And nobody can stop that from happening. But at the same time, we would like shops in Muslim-majority areas to consider the idea of self-regulation," he said.

According to him, the convenient store owners will be called by the state government to have a discussion regarding the self-regulation period.

"We will discuss the best way for us to impose this (self-regulation). It looks like most Muslim-majority areas in Shah Alam have stopped selling this beverage," he said, however adding that the non-Muslims still have the rights to buy the drinks.