In a statement today, transport minister Wee Ka Siong said the finance ministry had directed the customs department to cancel the directive to state governments and local governments.
“I have personally contacted finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, who is currently on a work trip to Singapore. He confirmed that the finance ministry had indeed cancelled the above directive and (he) promised to instruct the customs department to abide by this decision,” he said.
It was earlier reported that coffee shops and restaurants must apply for a liquor licence, which costs between RM840 and RM1,320 a year, if they want to continue selling beer and stout in their premises from Jan 1.
Businesses were surprised by the sudden requirement, which although is in the Excise Act 1976 and Excise Regulations 1977, was only now being enforced.
Critics had said the move would eat into the industry’s already small profit margins and infringe on the rights and freedom of non-Muslims.
In his statement, Wee said that the finance minister had cancelled the April 7 circular, which required business owners to apply for liquor licences from the customs department before Dec 31.
The MCA president added that the Malaysia-Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors General Association president Wong Teu Hoon approached him and deputy international trade and industry minister Lim Ban Hong when the association received the circular, and the duo “immediately got to work” to discuss the issue with the finance ministry.
He added that several restaurant and coffee shop owners in certain states were invited to attend briefings by the customs department in the middle of last month, and during the meeting, they were instructed to apply for the liquor licence and this is what had “caused an uproar”.
According to Wee, he spoke to Zafrul on the matter three weeks ago, and on Nov 23, the finance ministry instructed the customs department to cancel the implementation of compulsory licences for selling alcoholic beverages at coffee shops and restaurants.
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