In a statement today, Hashim Mohd Ali also expressed his alarm over what Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Ahmad Marzuk Shaary said last week regarding the possible extension of the ban to other states.
“I would just like to remind ministerial newbies not to be blindly overzealous in enforcing their religious beliefs on Malaysians of other faiths,” said Hashim, the president of the Chiefs Circle, a group made up of retired armed forces chiefs.
“That in itself is against the fundamental tenets of Islam which commands Muslims in authority to protect the rights and liberties of non-Muslims under their care.
“I would like to call upon the authorities concerned to rescind this liquor ban. Otherwise, it may undermine the spirit of our Rukun Negara, national unity and the cultural harmony and diversity that we have enjoyed between Muslims and non-Muslims.”
Hashim said that while he did not want to be seen as promoting alcohol consumption, it was crucial that the rights of non-Muslims be respected as Malaysia is a multireligious country which has had no issue with the sale of liquor from such outlets.
DBKL last week announced its 2021 liquor licence guidelines, with grocery shops, convenience stores and Chinese medicine shops in Kuala Lumpur set to lose the right to sell hard liquor from Oct 1 next year.
Beer can be sold at these premises from 7am to 9pm but must be placed separately from other beverages.
Hashim said while there have been no local studies and evidence to suggest that the sale of liquor from such outlets was linked to the problem of drink driving or even health, he said there were far more harmful things, such as cigarettes, that were being sold at the outlets.
“There must be no double standards involved in coming out with such a policy to curb the sale of liquor. The last thing our economy needs in this or the post-pandemic crisis, is further curbs on legitimate business activities.”
The National Patriots Association (Patriot), an NGO representing retired armed forces officers, had also voiced its objection against DBKL’s move to curb the sale of alcoholic drinks.
Questioning authorities if consuming liquor was more dangerous than corruption, Patriot president Mohamed Arshad Raji said the suggestion to extend the ban across the rest of the country was both unnecessary and ridiculous.