‘Ban will not resolve issue of illegal and cheap liquor’

Gunaseelan says a special task force should be set up on the manufacture and sale of illegal liquor.

THE ban on the sale of hard liquor at several retail outlets in the city will not help resolve problems caused by the production and sale of illegal cheap spirits.

Excise Licensing Board of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur (ELBKL) former chairman Datuk P. Gunaseelan said the restrictions imposed on Nov 1 would only worsen the situation.

“Not only will it spur the sale of illegal cheap liquor which is far more detrimental to health, it will also cause myriad social problems, including loss of jobs supported by the alcohol industry,” he told StarMetro.

Gunaseelan said during the recent Deepavali festive season, he was bombarded with multiple messages via WhatsApp from people offering cheap liquor for sale.

“These were famous brands being sold at cheap prices, so I knew it was not the real deal,’’ he added.

Gunaseelan, who was board chairman from 2013 to 2014, said he used to investigate the illegal production of liquor.

“This is what the government should be focusing on.

“They should go after illegal liquor manufacturers and tax evaders.

“People who buy cheap liquor online have no idea that it is not original,” he said, adding that the government should set up a special task force for this matter.

Gunaseelan urged those affected to not give up hope and continue to lobby for the ban to be rescinded.

The new guidelines on liquor sale, which excludes beer, were brought up on Nov 15 last year.

Initially set to be enforced on Oct 1 this year, the ban was postponed for a month for the guidelines to be finalised.

Sundry shops, convenience stores and Chinese medicine halls can now only sell beer from 7am to 9pm.

When contacted, ELBKL chairman Datuk Jason Lau Beng Wei said Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim would be meeting with Kuala Lumpur MPs in Parliament soon to discuss the matter.

DBKL Socio-economic Development executive director Anwar Mohd Zain said while they had not started enforcing the guidelines yet, he urged everyone to adhere to the new rules.