The restriction on liquor advertisements at
all food outlets is unreasonable and should be revoked
Press Statement
by Ronnie Liu Thian Chiew
(Petaling Jaya,
Friday):
DAP Selangor strongly objects to the announcement made by Selangor Mentri
Besar, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo on 23rd December 2002 that food outlets
in the state will not be allowed to put up liquor advertisements on their
signboards without prior approval from the local authorities.
There is no good reason why such condition for liquor advertisements should
be imposed on food outlets except for those that sell liquor as their core
business which are permitted to use such advertisements on their signboards.
By right, all food outlets that sell food and liquor should be allowed to
advertise liquor as has been the practice all along without being made to go
through the hassle of seeking approval since liquor is also one of the items
sold.
Such a move is bound to affect the business of food outlets generally and
their liquor sales particularly, including that of liquor manufacturers,
apart from arousing feelings of unhappiness and discontent among them.
Besides it would also hamper the government's effort to attract foreign
tourists into the country since many Westerners enjoy beer and liquor.
The question also arises whether the announcement made by the Mentri Besar
reflected only his personal views instead of the result of a collective
decision by the Selangor State EXCO. It would have been more appropriate and
reflective of the spirit of democracy for Khir Toyo to first consult the
State EXCO and sample the views of food outlet owners and hawkers as well as
the general public before proceeding with such a measure which have caught
many by surprise.
In a pluralistic society like ours, the right to put up liquor
advertisements should be upheld. Khir Toyo should not attempt to curtail
such advertisements which are mainly found in non-Muslim eateries by
subjecting the latter to the dictates of the Islamic religion especially as
other states do not have such a policy. The Perak State government, for
instance, had given assurance to food outlet operators that it would not
clamp down on beer advertisements.
Selangor DAP therefore urges the Mentri Besar to review the condition and to
revoke the notices which have been issued to owners of food outlets
instructing them to remove liquor advertisements so as not to impose
unnecessary burden on them. We will also launch a statewide signature
campaign tomorrow to find out the views of owners and hawkers in food
outlets as to whether they agree or disagree with such a move.
(27/12/2002)
* Ronnie Liu Thian Kiew,
DAP Selangor Secretary
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