Liu, Pas in booze stand-off
(The Malay Mail) DAP man slams call for a wider ban on liquor sales
PAS Youth’s call for a wider ban of liquor sales in Muslim-majority areas in all Pakatan Rakyat States, as well as in Perak, isn’t going down well even with its own compatriots.
Selangor Local Government, Study and Research Committee chairman Ronnie Liu said he was “very curious” to know how Pas Youth, or its deputy chief Azman Shapawi Ab Rani, were able to come up with such a call in the first place.
“To raise matters like this would mean to raise a lot of other issues. For example, how will you impose this regulation? How does one define the majority religion in a particular area? By percentage?
“People move from one area to another all the time. The percentage and majority can change. “If not by percentage, would it be by size? In acres? Or by the number and distance of places of worship in that area?
“Also, who would decide on who is going to conduct the census? What will it be based on? Would it only apply to adults or include minors as well?
“Why only liquor? What about other social issues like gambling? Are they (Pas Youth) going to ban all Sports Toto and Magnum 4D outlets too?” asked Liu, who is also DAP’s State assemblyman for Pandamaran.
Liu was also baffled about Azman’s will to push for such a guideline to be imposed in Perak when the State is no longer governed by Pakatan Rakyat.
“Who is he going to speak with on this matter, Zambry (Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir) or Nizar (Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin)? Why does he still consider Perak a Pakatan State when it’s clearly not?
“There are too many questions to this issue and I’m not sure who will be able to answer everything,” he said.
Liu is no stranger to run-ins with Pas, having had a face-off with Selangor Pas chief Datuk Dr Hassan Ali over the sale of beer in retail outlets in the State.
Liu had previously spoken out against Hassan’s plan to ban the sale of the drinks. It was reported yesterday that Pas Youth, through its deputy chief Azman, was calling for a ban on alcohol sales in Muslim-majority areas in all Pakatan Rakyat-held States and Perak.
Azman said they still considered Perak a Pakatan State. He said the wing would formulate a proposal after holding discussions in Selangor, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Perak, wit the first being held on Oct 2.
Subsequently, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak was quoted by Bernama as saying that he was in the dark about the call by Pas Youth.
“I had a meeting with Pas Youth (Central) on Saturday but this matter was not raised at all. I’m quite surprised to learn about this in the media today (yesterday).”
He said he doesn’t see an urgent need for this call to be implemented as Kedah already has its own laws on regulating beer and alcohol sales.
“I don’t believe this liquor ban issue is a problem for Muslims anywhere as they know consuming alcoholic beverages is haram,” he said. “And when did Pas Youth have any power over a State government?”
His views were echoed by Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang, who, in a statement, said Pakatan Rakyat States have sufficient laws which prohibit Muslims from consuming alcohol.
