Huazong objects to PAS' call to suspend alcohol sales; backs tougher laws against drunk-driving

KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) has resolutely objected to PAS' call on the government to suspend all productions, businesses, and sales of alcoholic beverages to prevent drunk driving.

Its president, Tan Sri T.C Goh retorted that such is a misguided call that is clearly against the nation's multiracial-and-multicultural background, deliberately challenging and eroding the rights of the non-Muslims to practise their culture and lifestyle.

Besides, such a proposal if implemented, would also seriously disrupt the country's longestablished free trade policy and would have a far-reaching adverse impact on its economy, Goh said.

“Please bear in mind that, consuming alcoholic beverages has been part of the food culture for the non-Muslims which had existed for many centuries. Alcohol is also commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, as a form of health supplement,” he reminded in a statement issued yesterday.

He was commenting on the call by PAS information chief Kamaruzaman Mohamad, who called on the government to immediately suspend all productions, businesses, and sales of alcoholic beverages so as new measures could be taken to prevent drunk-driving.

Goh however suggested that, to effectively tackle the grave concern over frequent accident cases involving drunk drivers, the government should amend the existing laws to impose heavier fines, imprisonment, or both, on those who are caught for drunk-driving.

He cited, for example, the government through the Ministry of Transport could amend Section 44 and 55 of The Road Transport Act 1987 in regard to offences of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, to impose heavier penalties and jail sentence on the offenders, to serve as a strong deterrent to drunkdriving. “Just like how the government succeeded in implementing the Movement Control Order (MCO) to contain the Covid-19 transmission, by charging the offenders in the court, we believe a tougher law can also effectively prevent drunk-driving.

“Besides this, the government should also enhance education and campaign against drunkdriving, such as requiring business establishments involved in selling of alcoholic beverages to sufficiently display notices prohibiting the sale of alcohol to the underage, and encourage them to provide ‘designated driver' or ‘ehailing service' to their customers, as one way of preventing drunkdriving,” he added.

Goh also welcomed and supported the government's measure of raising the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) limit from the existing 0.08% to 0.05% in accordance with the international standard, as part of the measures to prevent drunk-driving.