PAS' call for alcohol ban ‘part of extremist agenda'
KUCHING: Parti Islam SeMalaysia's (PAS) proposal to ban the production and sale of alcohol until a solution is found to curb drink driving has been called part of the party's “extremist” agenda.
Stampin member of parliament Chong Chieng Jen said an alcohol ban has always been on PAS' agenda.
“The notion of curbing drink driving is just an excuse used by PAS to further its extremist agenda,” Chong said in a press statement on Thursday.
He also highlighted Umno's proposal for federal laws to regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol.
“The first proposal (PAS') encroaches upon our lifestyle and social norms, while the second proposal (Umno's) encroaches upon the state's rights.
“In fact, this is the second time when alcoholic drinks have been targeted by the Perikatan Nasional ( PN) since the PN government was formed less than three months ago,” he said.
According to the Democratic Action Party ( DAP) Sarawak chairman, the first time was during the early stage of the imposition of the Movement Control Order (MCO).
“While food and beverage supply were allowed to operate with certain restricted conditions, Heineken's plant was initially given a permit to continue production, but its permit to operate was revoked after Umno-PAS objected to its continued operation. The beer production plant and its operation were supposed to be under the jurisdiction of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.
“Though the Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs is from GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak), he had to give in to the demands of his UmnoPAS colleagues in the cabinet,” he said.
Chong added it should be clear that the PN government's agenda is dictated by Umno and PAS.
“The religious bigots and extremists in PAS and Umno have no consideration or respect for people of other religions and cultures and will take every opportunity to impose their way of life onto the others.
“The GPS in the federal government with PAS and Umno, despite having ministers in the federal cabinet, is powerless to stop the Umno-PAS agenda. For the sake of their ministerial positions, the GPS can and will only go along with the UmnoPAS agenda in the cabinet, and the call to ban the sale of alcoholic drinks is only a sign of things to come,” he claimed.