SEPUTEH MP Teresa Kok drew a sharp response from the PAS lawmakers today when she called the district of Dunggun “conservative” while questioning the government’s move to restrict the sale of alcohol in Chinese medicine halls in Kuala Lumpur.

Kok, who was against the move, was speaking after Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli (Dungun-PAS), who had asked the Federal Territories Minister Shahidan Kassim to justify the delay in enforcing the rule. 

“The MP who asked this question is from Dungun. Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia.

“It is a heterogeneous society and it is the face of Malaysia, and not a conservative society like Dungun,” Kok said.

Shahidan had earlier responded Wan Hassan’s questions about the Liquor Licence Guidelines (LMK) of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall, which prohibits the sale of liquor in grocery stores, convenience stores and Chinese medicine halls starting October 1.

Responding to Kok, Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (Kuala Krai-PAS) said Dungun was also part of Malaysia.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Awang Hashim (Pendang-PAS) asked Kok to retract her “insulting” comment.

Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun, however, ruled that Kok’s remark was not an insult.

Kok went on to say that the liquor sold in the Chinese medicine halls were for medicinal purposes and that banning the product would only drive people to buy alcohol online, spurring illegal sales.

Taking note of her concerns, Shahidan said engagements with stakeholders will continue.

“Let’s come up with a win-win decision,” he said.

Shahidan said non-Muslims can still sell and buy alcohol at pubs, bars, hotels and grocery stores.

He said the ruling was made to limit the accessibility of alcohol to Muslims and non-Muslims below the legal drinking age.

Shahidan added the government has delayed the enforcement of the ruling to October 31 as it was still in talks with stakeholders. – October 7, 2021.