Selangor PAS wants beer included in ban, Liu to be removed (Update)

SHAH ALAM: Selangor PAS wants the state government to include beer in its ban on the sale of alcohol in all Muslim-majority areas and state executive councillor Ronnie Liu to be removed from his post as head of local government.

The sale of alcohol is already banned in these areas, but as a beverage beer has been a grey area and is sold in 24-hour convenience stores.

When the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) enforcement unit seized 70 cans of beer from a retail outlet in Section 8, Liu got involved and got MBSA to return the beer and apologise to the owner.

Selangor PAS said that the ban will only concern Muslims and not impinge on the rights of non-Muslims, although he conceded to would have to travel farther for their fix.

It accused the DAP’s Liu of “meddling in Islamic affairs.”

Meanwhile, Liu said that new guidelines on the sale of hard liquor and beer is being drafted and would issued after a period of public consultation.

Only 24-hour convenience outlets in Sections 1 to 24 in Shah Alam, which are Muslim-majority areas, would be asked to stop the sale of beer to “respect the community,” he said.

“The matter has to be considered carefully to take into account the sensitivities of all races,” he said.

More to come