YOURSAY | Govt should guide majority to be fair to minorities

YOURSAY | ‘Opposition parties are poisoning Malay minds, no need to pander to extremists.’

DBKL: Liquor sales ban at grocery, Chinese medicine stores not lifted

LimeHorse5802: Many who are commenting about DBKL’s statement over the liquor sales ban are probably just out to discredit the Madani government and DAP.

Most are not alcohol consumers let alone buying them from grocery stores and Chinese medicine shops.

To start with, I have been a non-Malay and an alcoholic consumer for the last 40 years.

I am not addicted to it, but I do enjoy a couple of drinks weekly; mostly spirits and distilled ones like whiskey and brandy.

I never drink and drive and I think I did not pose any problems to society or my family due to my alcohol consumption.

I drink only at licensed places where alcohol is permitted to be sold and served or I drink at the comfort of my home.

I never once bought any alcohol from grocery and Chinese medicine shops.

If I must buy alcohol for consumption at home, again I will purchase it from licensed shops where I am assured of the quality and that the content is not adulterated.

I do not see the logic of allowing shops selling groceries and Chinese medicine to carry alcohol for sale unless the alcohol is for medicinal purposes (which is allowed though).

Hence, I do not see my rights to consume alcohol being violated because of the above ban.

In the 1980s, I lived near a Chinese medicine shop that sold alcohol distilled in the backyard with an ethanol content exceeding 60 percent.

And only God knows what other substances were added to the “drink”.

This shop (which at that time was not unique) had a steady clientele and those who bought this potent “drink” would consume it immediately and would sleep by the five-foot way immobilised as their livers metabolise the poison.

Sometimes, they do get aggressive and do pose a nuisance to the society.

This was not history as until recently, there were unscrupulous retailers that all selling contaminated backyard distilled alcohol, and this had caused deaths upon consumption.

As a responsible government, I believe the ban is geared at eradicating such ills and directing the sale of alcohol to licensed outlets to protect alcohol consumers rather than attempting to violate their rights.

Blame this outburst on how the so-called ban was implemented by the former federal territories minister who had added a twist for his political mileage.

Meanwhile, I will continue to enjoy my alcohol.

Chokstone: Absolute domination over the others is the real purpose, all these nonsensical reasons are just functioning as excuses.

That is why the ‘Green Wave’ is gaining momentum, where all levels could flex their muscle to dominate or even to the extent of bullying minorities; your livelihood or rights should be under their purview.

The opposition parties are poisoning the Malay minds with their concept of a zero-sum game among races (fairness to the minorities by the Madani government is seen as a contradiction in the zero-sum game concept).

The Madani government would be too late to amend the situation by then if it's not curbed, even with better growth of the economy.

That's the most powerful political tactic (racial populist) they owned to win over the Malays, rather than the Madani government which seems to be fair to the minorities.

The Madani new narrative should be one that could guide the majority to accept fairness to the minorities in this multiracial society, as this would bring benefit for all of us; whilst a harmonious environment will attract foreign direct investment/domestic investment to prosper the nation.

Ignoring the facts of the dark side of human nature (which tends to dominate the other group of human beings when given the chance), Pakatan Harapan will lose in the next election.

The Madani government's new narrative should be one that could guide the people to sway from the present distorted desire of wanting a dominating Malay government, even though they knew it could destroy the nation's prosperity.

But now, the Madani government continues to be controlled by a small group of bigots and dare not move back to the right track.

Anonymous9483: So, does this mean that the DBKL excise licensing board chairperson Pooi Weng Keong should be removed since he made a statement contravening that of the board?

Isn't this a classic example of little Napoleon going rogue and acting on their own?

And with almost the whole of KL's parliamentary constituency under DAP, I wonder what will they say or just maintain their elegant silence.

OrangePanther1466: Why ban liquor sales in the Klang Valley? Why include Chinese medicinal halls in the ban?

It’s very unlikely any Muslims will visit a Chinese medicine hall, so why ban it? Even if some do go to such places for medication, they are not there for hard liquor.

DBKL should lift the ban and collect revenue from the sales. Only ban Muslims from buying hard liquor.

There’s no need to penalise the non-Malays too. DBKL councillors are not subjected to re-election, so there is no need to pander to the extremists.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.