Putrajaya revokes approvals for Heineken, Carlsberg after PN parties froth
- UPDATED 4.45PM | Updated to include revocation of Carlberg's approval.
CORONAVIRUS | Putrajaya has revoked the approvals for brewers Heineken Malaysia Bhd and Carlsberg to continue its operations during the movement control order (MCO) period.
At a daily Covid-19 update press conference in Putrajaya, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob confirmed that the decision was made at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin this morning...
- UPDATED 4.45PM | Updated to include revocation of Carlberg's approval.
CORONAVIRUS | Putrajaya has revoked the approvals for brewers Heineken Malaysia Bhd and Carlsberg to continue its operations during the movement control order (MCO) period.
At a daily Covid-19 update press conference in Putrajaya, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob confirmed that the decision was made at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin this morning.
"Yesterday, there were many viral messages on social media questioning the operations of brewers Heineken and Carlsberg that received letters allowing their factories to operate.
"The special cabinet meeting chaired by the prime minister today has decided that the approvals have been revoked," he said.
"The International Trade and Industries Ministry will issue immediate revocation letters," Ismail stressed.
This came after Umno, PAS and Bersatu leaders criticised the government for making such a decision when alcohol was not an essential product.
Earlier today, Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa also took to Twitter and said that the approval was not in line with MCO policy.
"It has been cancelled this morning... because this was not in line with the policy of the government," he said.
Annuar was responding to a netizen who urged the government to immediately revoke its approval for Heineken to operate during the MCO period, which ends on April 14.
The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, in a letter to Heineken dated March 31 and sighted by Malaysiakini, agreed that the alcoholic beverages producer was a food supply operator and therefore, can operate during the partial lockdown.
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