Govt mulls task force for monitoring alcohol sales
PARLIAMENT | The government is willing to consider establishing a task force to monitor alcohol sales because of many drink driving incidents that have caused fatalities.
Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Ismail Muttalib (above) told the Dewan Rakyat today that there has been a rising trend in drink driving cases since 2015.
PARLIAMENT | The government is willing to consider establishing a task force to monitor alcohol sales because of many drink driving incidents that have caused fatalities.
Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Ismail Muttalib (above) told the Dewan Rakyat today that there has been a rising trend in drink driving cases since 2015.
"As an example, in 2016 there were 161 cases, but from January to June this year there were (already) 150 cases.
"From 2016 until 2020, 44 people have lost their lives due to drink-driving accidents.
"The government takes it seriously and will consider establishing a task force to monitor the sales of alcohol," he said.
While the sale of alcohol is under the Customs Department, Ismail said that the Housing and Local Government Ministry is of the view that there is a need to revisit the governance of the sale of alcohol in grocery stores as it has more negative than positive effects on society.
"To support the government's intentions, the Housing and Local Government Ministry has issued instruction letters on June 9 informing all state governments to identify special premises involved in the sale of alcoholic beverages and to heighten enforcement efforts to curb the negative effects of alcohol consumption," he added.
The Maran MP was responding to a written question by Sepanggar MP Azis Jamman (below) who asked whether the ministry would review the sale of alcohol in grocery stores because liquor has more negative than positive effects on society.
Ismail clarified that the question of alcohol sale licences was not being viewed from the aspect of religion but purely from the legal status of their licences.
He did, however, add that from the viewpoint of Islam, alcohol was seen as a forbidden substance, and expressed the belief that other religions also did not endorse its consumption especially when it led to incidents such as drink driving accidents.
In a supplementary question, Azis asked if grocery stores were being monitored to ensure that they did not sell alcoholic beverages to those aged under 18 and to Muslims.
He said that he was concerned because he had observed many such stores selling alcohol without checking customers' identification.
To a supplementary question by Padang Serai MP Karuppaiya Muthusamy on the governance of alcohol consumption in public spaces such as parks, as was being carried out by the Selangor government, Ismail said that licences were only for alcohol sales and drinking in public spaces was not permitted.
Ismail reminded the House that the sale of liquor in this country is subject to the Customs Act 1967 (Act 235) and Excise Act 1976 Act 176 which is under the jurisdiction of the Customs Department.
Under Section 32, Act 176, the sale of intoxicating liquor at a retail shop requires a licence.
He added that the ministry, through local authorities, only issues business premises licences under the trade, business and industrial by-laws after the application for a liquor sales licence meets the conditions set by the federal government, district offices, police and customs.
People drink and drive because they know if they get caught, they can easily bribe the police officers and avoid jail. Maybe sort out the bribery issue amongst officers and actually send drunk drivers to jail? This way there is actually a strong incentive for drinkers to take Grab instead of driving. And then you can avoid braindead policy proposals.