MP SPEAKS | Following the unjust ban by Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) on sundry shops and Chinese medicine halls selling alcohol to non-Muslims, the federal government has now extended its interference in the customary lifestyle and business practices of non-Muslims nationwide by imposing new restrictions on coffeeshops selling beer to non-Muslims.

Clearly, the federal government is adopting PAS’ extremist policies nationwide, including Sabah and Sarawak, by requiring ordinary coffeeshops selling beer to apply for alcohol licences. Coffeeshops and restaurants in Perlis were also reported by China Press that beer sales are limited to only four cartons daily.

This is not just about imposing additional financing burden via extra licensing costs for coffeeshops and restaurants of more than RM1,000 under the present difficult economic circumstances caused by the economic recession and Covid-19 pandemic. This is about deliberately imposing unnecessary restrictions and interfering in the customary lifestyle and business practices on non-Muslims that have been undisturbed since Merdeka to fulfil the political extremism of PAS.

The latest ruling next year by the Customs Department next year on all coffeeshops and restaurants will adversely impact over ten thousand business establishments throughout the country.

With the small profit margin on selling beer, some small coffeeshops may even be compelled to stop selling beer because they can not afford the over RM1,000 in licensing fees.

Is this the outcome intended and the real political motivation of the federal government to comply with the wishes of the extremist PAS?

A China Press news report on Dec 4, 2021, claimed that this ruling was supposed to be imposed in a 1976 excise regulation. This is disputed and can be contested in court.

When I was finance minister, as well as other previous finance ministers, this was never brought up or became an issue. Clearly, this is a new ruling by the current government influenced by PAS’ extremist policies.

The non-Muslim ministers in the cabinet, especially those from Sabah and Sarawak, must bear full responsibility and explain why they did not stop but instead permitted or supported such extremist policies by the federal government and PAS.

Support from non-Muslim ministers including those from GPS will only lead to erosion and even deprivation of non-Muslim rights to satisfy the extremist policies of PAS. Why interfere in the sale of beer to non-Muslims when they are not sold to Muslims?

Pending further clarification from the finance minister or Customs Department on the legality of these unfair regulations, DAP urges local governments, especially in the Pakatan Harapan-controlled states, not to implement such regulations that restrict and limit the existing rights of non-Muslims.

DAP shall also instruct our lawyers to examine the regulations to challenge in court these restrictions on coffee shops and restaurants selling beer requiring alcohol licences.

LIM GUAN ENG is Bagan MP and DAP secretary-general.

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