Wee: 'Alcohol sale ban absurd'

KUALA LUMPUR: The Selangor government must explain the proposed ban on alcohol sales in all traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shops, said MCA deputy president Datuk Wee Ka Siong.
He said Pakatan Rakyat who has always championed the idea of a people centric government must explain the reasons for the proposed ban to the public.
“It does not make sense if a shop that has the license to sell alcohol is not allowed to sell any alcohol at their premises.
“I hope that the relevant authorities can actually review the ban as it will create a lot of unnecessary burden for the TCM shops, as a majority of their clientele are from the Chinese community, and most of their medicine contains some alcohol substance,” he told reporters after officiating the Malaysian Chinese Medical Association (MCMA) website here today.
According to reports in the Chinese press, TCM shop owners in the Petaling district had received orders to stop selling alcohol earlier this month.
In a statement issued to the media, MCA's Selangor state liaison committee secretary Ng Chok Sin said the proposed ban was absurd.
“The move is unacceptable as it not only affects the business of TCM shop owners, but also applies subtle pressure on the traditional medicine industry," he said.
He said it was shocking for Pakatan Rakyat to introduce a policy which contradicts Selangor’s image as one of the nation’s most developed and richest state.
“If such a ban is to be implemented, it will affect the TCM industry and may even set a precedent for other states to follow suit,” Ng said.