DBKL yet to give update on enforcement of liquor sale ban in KL

WITH only hours left before the ban on liquor sales in Kuala Lumpur is set to kick in on Monday (Nov 1), the authorities are still keeping mum on whether it is going to be implemented.

When contacted, a Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) spokesman said there was no update on the issue.

Federal Territories MCA DBKL Affairs Bureau chief Banie Chin said the lack of updates from DBKL and the Federal Territories Ministry on the liquor sale ban were keeping stakeholders in limbo.

"This may hurt the industries as stakeholders do not know what to do about it and whether to replenish their stocks.

"While all the affected business owners are waiting for an announcement from the authorities, we hope that they can re-evaluate the ban.

"Businesses such as Chinese medicine halls and sundry shops had sold liquor and alcoholic beverages for decades and the previous guidelines in regard to liquor sales are good enough.

"There is no need for additional restrictions," he said.

The liquor sale restriction guidelines prohibiting sundry shops, convenience stores and Chinese medicine halls in Kuala Lumpur from selling hard liquor were first brought up on Nov 15, 2020

Initially set to be enforced on Oct 1, the ban was postponed for a month to finalise the study of the guidelines.

The new rules are supposed to start on Monday.

On Oct 8, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said in Parliament that the government was still in talks with the stakeholders on DBKL’s plan to ban the sale of liquor in Chinese medicine halls, convenience stores and sundry shops.

He said the objective was to limit access to liquor among Muslims as well as those below the age of 21.

Several associations whose members were affected by the ban could not be reached for comments at press time.