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Wednesday, December 01, 2021

PAS rep heckled after asking Penang to limit alcohol sales



PAS rep heckled after asking Penang to limit alcohol sales


Penang PAS representative Mohd Yusni Mat Piah received brickbats for suggesting that Penang impose limits on sale of drinks and 4D outlets.

GEORGE TOWN: A PAS assemblyman who sang praises about the curbs on the sale of alcohol imposed by Kuala Lumpur and Kedah was heckled by backbenchers at the Penang assembly today.

It began when Mohd Yusni Mat Piah (PN-Penaga) said Penang should emulate what DBKL and Kedah were doing in limiting alcohol sales.

He said it was an approach taken by the PAS-led Kelantan in 1990 and was well-received by non-Muslims there.

Yusni said drink-driving fatalities were on the rise and the restriction in alcohol sales would be timely.


Mohd Yusni Mat Piah.

He narrated incidents where a city council worker and a nasi lemak seller were killed and their children orphaned because of drunk drivers.

Yusni said Penang should also follow in Kedah’s footsteps by banning 4D outlets.

He thanked the Penang government for assuring him in a written reply that the number of 4D outlets will be reduced in the future. He did not give further details.

“An average of 115 arrests were made every year in Penang from 2015 to 2019 involving drunk drivers. This is a very high number,” he said in debating the 2022 state supply bill.

Weighing in, Dr Afif Bahardin (PN-Seberang Jaya) said curbs on alcohol sales were appropriate, stating that many developed countries had done so.

He agreed that drinking-driving accidents were on the rise.


Satees Muniandy.

Satees Muniandy (PH-Bagan Dalam) said while alcohol consumption is haram (forbidden) in Islam, such a restriction should not be extended to non-Muslims.

“The relevant Islamic enforcement agencies should take action against Muslims who drink or place bets at 4D outlets.

“In countries such as Bahrain, alcohol is sold in the open. But yet, they do not impose such strict rules which go against the rights of non-Muslims.

“We don’t need PAS to be the country’s moral police. Given the chance, PAS will take us back to the Stone Age.

“This is a question of fundamental liberties of all Malaysians. If a person wants to drink, it is his personal choice.


“How come you are not saying anything about those driving under the influence of drugs or ketum?” he asked, with backbenchers thumping their tables in agreement.

Ong Ah Teong (PH-Batu Lanchang) told Yusni to look into more important issues, such as why PAS-led Kedah is threatening to divert Sungai Muda to deprive Penangites of water.


Yusni said that as a devout Muslim and a member of PAS, he would not waver in his ways, despite being under attack.


“Better to close all gaming premises, because, like alcohol, gambling brings more problems than good,” he said.


1 comment:

  1. This member of the sick PAS party is symptomatic of what lies ahead should this self confessed party of god gain power.

    ReplyDelete