The blanket ban on the other 51 outlets has been rescinded with immediate effect, he said.

Rajendran said the notices were only supposed to be served on five outlets selling alcohol within the vicinity of the Waterfall Hilltop Temple.

“Our officers are now going door to door to retract the ban notice from 51 other outlets,” he told reporters in Komtar here.

Earlier today, FMT reported that MBPP issued an alcohol sale ban on the urging of the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB), to ensure an “orderly and peaceful” chariot procession.

The three-day ban was supposed to come into effect from today to Jan 26.

Penang local government committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye said the ban on the sale of alcohol along the procession route was made without consulting the state executive council.

“This was done without our knowledge. I think it is baseless. All future sale bans by the council must get state exco approval first,” he said at the same media conference.

When asked if the earlier wider ban was carried out on behalf of PHEB, H’ng said there had been a “miscommunication during one of the meetings”.

“The ban on the five outlets has been there for many years, on the advice of the police, but it is only during Thaipusam. We want to make it clear that all are free to carry out their business,” he said.

Separately, PHEB chairman RSN Rayer said the board had never requested a procession-wide alcohol sales ban, only a sales ban on Jalan Utama, the main thoroughfare to the Waterfall Hilltop Temple.

We are live on Telegram, subscribe here for breaking news and the latest announcements.