JUNE 2 — The ban for the sale of alcohol in all traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shops in Selangor issued by Petaling District Licensing Council is undoubtedly rubbing salt into the wound of TCM shop operators, who have been suffering the impacts of Goods and Services Tax (GST).
As expected, the decision has caused an uproar in the state.
Meanwhile, the Shah Alam City Council also said that it will no longer issue permit to store alcohol.
Are the decisions made by "Little Napoleons" in the state, or are they signs of policy Islamisation? The state government must clear the doubts as soon as possible.
TCM shop operators have encountered various severe challenges, including regulations and obstacles when applying for permit renewal every year.
TCM shops have been legally selling alcohol for decades and how could the authority simply impose such a ban? If the proposed ban is passed, it might become a dangerous precedent.
In addition to selling herbs and Chinese medicine, 80 per cent of TCM shops also sell groceries and alcoholic beverages, and alcohol beverages contribute one third of their incomes.
Banning them from selling alcohol is undoubtedly a severe blow to them.
Their businesses have dropped by 30 per cent after the implementation of GST in April and if they are not allowed to sell alcohol, their incomes will further fall by 30 to 50 per cent, making it hard for them to survive.
In fact, operators have to comply with strict regulations when renewing their permits, such as separating the alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, putting up notices of not selling alcohol to Muslims and all under the age of 18. Why should the authority still impose such an unreasonable ban ?
There have been signs showing policy Islamisation over the past few years after Pakatan Rakyat taking over Selangor and the rights and freedom of non-Muslims have been gradually invaded. The ban for the sale of alcohol in TCM shops is just the latest move, while other cases include requiring all premises selling alcohol beverages in Shah Alam to put up stickers, brochures and posters containing information and guidelines on the sale alcoholic beverages; while the annual Oktoberfest event was forced to be held at a parking lot. Chinese voters who had voted for Pakatan Rakyat should have not expected that so many measures unfavourable to non-Muslims would actually be introduced in the state.
The growing tendency of policy Islamisation in Selangor shows the weak voices of DAP in Selangor, even though the DAP and PAS holds 15 seats each and the PKR holds only 13 seats in the state legislative assembly.
The DAP criticised the MCA for not having voices in the BN and today, it itself is actually trapped in a similar situation in Selangor. When the Malacca state government wanted to ban the sale of alcohol in convenience store in areas with more then 70 per cent Malay residents, DAP Vice-Chairman Teresa Kok criticised the move as a dangerous precedent. But now, the DAP has remained silent.
The Selangor state government's moves to implement Islamised policies or unfriendly interference with commercial activities will not only obstruct foreign investment, but also affect local tourism and economic development, while undermining the state's self-proclaimed "developed state" image.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the view of the Malay Mail Online.
