THE Ismail Sabri Yaakob administration today failed to respond to queries on why coffee shops will be required to obtain a licence to sell beer next month.

Instead, in Parliament today, Deputy Finance Minister Mohd Shahar Abdullah merely explained that countries around the world had the same high liquor prices as Malaysia.

“This (high liquor prices) does not happen only in Malaysia only but is a practice in other countries,” said the Paya Besar MP.

“We follow the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to control the prices of cigarettes and liquor,” said the BN lawmaker.

Although the WHO FCTC is specific to tobacco control, Mohd Shahar nevertheless used it to explain why liquor prices were high in Malaysia.

The deputy minister was responding to Nga Kor Ming’s (Teluk Intan-PH) supplementary question on the latest beer licensing requirements on coffee shops.

“Starting next month, the Customs Department requires coffee shops to obtain a separate licence to sell beer. This is on top of the signboard, cigarette and business licences that the coffee shops are required to get.

“As the licence is priced at RM1,340, this cost will be passed on to consumers. Why is the government making it harder for them in such difficult times?” said Nga.

Since taking over last year, the Barisan Nasional-Perikatan Nasional-GPS government has tightened the rules for selling alcohol.

Coffee shops are now required to apply for a licence to sell beer.

In Kuala Lumpur, grocers, convenience stores, and Chinese medicinal halls are no longer allowed to sell liquor. These establishments can only sell beer from 7am till 9pm.

Although the controversial ruling was introduced by PN, it has been maintained by the Barisan Nasional government that took over in August.

In the same question, Nga also asked if local liquor prices were the second highest in the world after Norway.

Meanwhile, Shahar told Parliament that the Customs Department seized 2,842 cases of illegal liquor and cigarettes in 2020.

“This involved a sum of RM97.34 million amounting to RM707 million in lost taxes.

“In 2021, Customs seized 2,518 cases involving RM41.43 million with a tax loss of RM281.69 million,” said Shahar.

He said the government has stepped up operations to curb the smuggling of contraband. – December 6, 2021.
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