Livid that Malacca may outlaw alcohol beverages from being sold at 7-Eleven outlets in predominantly Muslim areas, a local MCA leader wonders if hospitals and clinics will be next.

"Some medical solutions contain alcohol, most apparent are alcohol swabs to clean up wounds.

"Are hospitals, clinics and pharmacists to be raided too to remove such medical aids and solutions, or Muslim doctors and nurses prohibited from swabbing their patients' injuries with alcohol meant to prevent infections?" asked Koh Chin Han.

The senator, who is also Malacca MCA liaison committee secretary, said such a ban will confine communities.

"We shudder at the thought of the state government drawing figurative or real-life ethnic-based perimetres as this will indirectly segregate neighbourhoods along racial-lines.

"Such a move is unhealthy as integration among the various ethnic groups is prevented and the population will end up being restricted to themselves or that future development policies maybe based on these demographic borders," he added.

What about airport and supermarket?

Koh also asked if the state government will stretch this rule to include the Terendak army camp of which Muslim military personnel are clearly the majority?

"Will the mess hall which serves and sells duty free beer and liquor be shut down, thus severing the rights of non-Muslim soldiers?

"Will the domestic airport be next in the target line since commercial airlines carry with them alcoholic beverages for passengers?

"If the state government is going to start with 7-11 outlets, what next? Supermarkets and shopping complexes soon?" he said.

Koh recalled how a similar situation had transpired in Selangor, shortly after Pakatan Rakyat captured the state in 2008.

He said the then PAS elected representative had mooted the same suggestion for 7-11 outlets.

"However, after public outrage as the plan will cause 7-11 to retrench Muslim employees, besides its entire non-feasibility, such a proposal was quickly shelved," he added.

In view of this, he said MCA urged the Malacca state government to rethink the suitability of this alcohol ban proposal in view of job losses and communal separation.

However, two Malacca MCA leaders have refuted reports saying alcohol sale has been banned at 7-Eleven outlets in areas that are 90 percent Muslim.

Yesterday, state excos Lim Ban Hong and Lai Meng Chong told Malaysiakini that the state executive council (exco) did not pass any such motion at its Wednesday meeting.