PAS wants alcohol ban to stop drink-driving

Updated 3 years ago · Published on 26 May 2020 5:51PM · 6 Comments

PAS is urging the Perikatan government to stop alcohol sales and production until drink-driving is stopped. – EPA pic, May 26, 2020.

PAS wants the Muhyiddin Yassin-led Perikatan Nasional (PN) government to suspend the production and sales of alcohol immediately until new steps can be formulated to stop drink-driving.

“PN also needs to set up a special cabinet committee to find ways to combat this problem,” said PAS information chief Kamaruzaman Mohamad in a statement today.

“PAS wants the Customs Department and all local governments to suspend the licences for all 24-hour convenience shops that sell alcoholic drinks openly,” said the former Islamic pressure group Ummah deputy chairman.

Ummah is one of the Muslim civil society groups that championed the “Buy Muslim First” campaign after Pakatan Harapan came into government.

According to Kamaruzaman, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had put Malaysia as one of the top 10 alcohol consumers in the world.

“This means Malaysians spend more than RM2 billion a year on alcoholic drinks with an average of 15 litres per capita in 2016.

“Beer consumption in Malaysia is also at a worrying level,” said the PAS politician.

However, checks with the 2018 WHO global status on alcohol consumption showed Malaysians consumed an average of 3.1 litres of pure alcohol a year with a projected decline in consumption from 0.9 in 2020 to 0.8 in 2025.

In contrast, Australia consumes around 13.4 litres, Japan (14.1) and Singapore (2.9) under the Western Pacific Region.

Malaysia is not one of the top 10 consumers of alcohol as suggested by Kamaruzaman. The list of countries were arranged according to alphabetical order and not alcohol consumption.

He said drink-driving cannot be ignored as the problem is due to weaknesses in the law and enforcement.

It was reported today that a man was killed last night in Kuantan after he collided with a car which was going against traffic flow. The car going against traffic was allegedly driven by a motorist who was believed to be drunk.

Pahang Traffic Investigations and Enforcement Department chief Kamarulzaman Jusoh identified the victim as 41-year-old Herman Kamarudin, who died at the scene.

“The victim who was in a Toyota Yaris was believed to be travelling from his home in Sg Isap Perdana to Gabeng to begin his night shift when his vehicle was hit by a Toyota C-HR, which was going against traffic.

“The car rammed into several vehicles which had to move aside to avoid a collision,” he said.

Kamarulzaman said the Toyota C-HR was driven by a 42-year-old man, said to be a fish wholesaler who was believed to have consumed alcohol at his friend’s house in Semambu before the incident. – May 26, 2020.

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • There are so many Mat Rempit causing nightly havoc, leading to numerous accidents. Lets ban the use of motorcycles starting with Kelantan and Terengganu!

    Posted 3 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • Yeah right.

    Posted 3 years ago by Zarul MA · Reply

  • Too many car accidents on the road that kills thousands of people every year. Let's ban the cars and only allow camel on the road!

    Posted 3 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply

  • Ban this PAS MP salary first , so as to at least subsidise a bit the taxes lost due to closure of liquor factories. Ask him to live in God Kingdom, no liquor, no haram things, no evil acts, no corruption, no immoral, no lying , only virgins waiting for him. Perfectionist like him should not live in this imperfect world.

    Posted 3 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Ban this PAS MP salary first , so as to at least subsidise a bit the taxes lost due to closure of liquor factories. Ask him to live in God Kingdom, no liquor, no haram things, no evil acts, no corruption, no immoral, no lying , only virgins waiting for him. Perfectionist like him should not live in this imperfect world.

    Posted 3 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • PAS please ban CUROUPTION also. You are in government.

    Posted 3 years ago by Thomas Samuel · Reply