According to Sulaiman, checks by the state government showed that AKCC was not allowed to sell alcoholic beverages without a licence.
The state government then decided to stop the sale of alcoholic beverages at the premises immediately.
“I have also received many complaints about liquor sales as the club is meant for sporting activities,” Sulaiman was quoted as saying by The Star.
FMT had yesterday reported that the Melaka state government had ordered AKCC to stop selling alcoholic beverages anywhere on its premises.
In a statement posted on the club’s Facebook page yesterday, the AKCC management said the new ruling was to be enforced with immediate effect.
Sulaiman said that since AKCC is owned by the state government, the club should follow state requirements.
“This was the reason we checked on the complaints on alcohol sales at the premises and decided to discontinue it,” he said.
He added that the club was not meant to serve alcoholic beverages or be an entertainment centre.
Sulaiman also denied that the state government was infringing on the rights of the members or the public.
“The move had nothing to do with the state government infringing on the rights of anyone or banning the sale of alcohol in the state. We only acted based on complaints received from AKCC members on alcohol sales,” he said.
Sulaiman said the state government respected the rights of the people and he hoped that the issue would not be blown out of proportion.
The 57-year-old club is the oldest in Melaka with a 27-hole golf course and other sports and recreational facilities, including a swimming pool, tennis and squash courts, as well as table tennis and billiards rooms.
According to the AKCC website, the club is managed by a company called Ayer Keroh Country Club Bhd, whose board of directors are nominated by the Melaka state government.
Two years ago, in a unanimous decision at an extraordinary general meeting, 160 members of the Seremban International Golf Club voted against a ruling to ban alcohol from being served at its premises.