PARLIAMENT An Amanah lawmaker has urged the government to consider making alcohol and tobacco products available only in certain convenience stores.

Dr Siti Mariah Mahmood (Amanah-Kota Raja) said this is because currently, liquor licenses are only required by shops selling distilled alcohol such as wines, while malt products such as beers are more readily available.

Thus, she told the Dewan Rakyat, such a system would make enforcement easier, and can also be considered for areas where the majority of the population are Muslims.

“I wish to suggest that in the long term, these items are separated and sold only at certain premises,” she said in the House today.

However, when Dr Izani Hussin (PAS-Pengkalan Chepa) suggested that taxes on alcohol and tobacco products be raised further, Siti Mariah did not appear to be supportive.

“I see that taxes on cigarettes are on the rise. As for alcohol, it is allowed for non-Muslims, so if we raise (the taxes) we will burden them,” she said.

Siti Mariah said this while debating Budget 2017.

Earlier in her speech, she asked the government to clarify how much it received from “sin tax” - tax and excise duties on alcohol, tobacco, and gambling.

She also urged the government to use the sin tax revenue to pay off the national debt, while keeping national funds meant for emoluments of civil servants syariah compliant.

Second Finance Minister Johari Abdul Ghani, in winding up the ministry's debate, said the government would consider separating syariah compliant and non-syariah compliant revenues collected by the government.