Licensing board: New DBKL liquor guidelines meant to regulate not restrict sales

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 20): New liquor licensing guidelines for the city are not meant to restrict the sale of liquor in the city but “to regulate the availability of hard liquor in certain premises”, the Excise Licensing Board of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur (ELBKL) clarified today.

“The guidelines allow liquor to be sold at premises such as pubs, bars, lounges, restaurants as well as supermarkets and hypermarkets in commercial complexes.

“Also, pure or mixed liquor products categorised as traditional medicine by the Health Ministry (MOH) can still be sold at Chinese medicine shops,”  ELBKL chairman Datuk Lau Beng Wei was reported saying by The Star today.

He explained that Chinese medicine shops that sell “other types of liquor” can apply for permission to do so from MOH and City Hall (DBKL) “would have no objections if MOH confirms the type of liquor”.

“Temporary liquor licences can also be issued for promotional activities, events that serve beer and liquor as well as during festive seasons,” Lau added

Meanwhile, beer can still be sold at sundry shops, convenience stores and medicine halls subject to certain conditions.

Lau revealed that workshops and meetings were conducted with MOH, the Federal Territories Ministry, Customs Department, the police, Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros), Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) as well as non-governmental organisations, to help come up the liquor guidelines.

Earlier this week, business owners in the city say the latest liquor licence guidelines announced by DBKL will impact the nation's economy, which is already suffering from the Covid-19 outbreak.

Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Wine and Spirit Chinese Dealers Association secretary Albert Chooi Leong Peow said the latest directive “will not just hurt businesses, but the government's tax income as well”.

“If they don’t release the licences, how do we make a living? And that also means the government will not get taxes,” Chooi told Malaysiakini.

"We are facing the worst time for the economy. Every business, including those that sell liquor, is struggling to boost the economy,” said Federation of Sundry Goods Merchants Association president Hong Chee Meng.

"The policy, which is currently implemented within Kuala Lumpur, may not severely affect the country (now), but what if the authorities extend it to the entire country one day?

"The tax revenue will be reduced and it is definitely a loss for Malaysia," Hong added.

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