(Petaling Jaya, Wednesday): A group of officers from the Majlis Perbandaran Kuantan (MPK) Enforcement Unit raided a 7-Eleven outlet in a Muslim majority residential area in Kuantan and confiscated 277 bottles and cans of beers last Sunday after receiving complaints from local Muslim residents that the outlet sells alcoholic drinks.

Although the YDP of MPK Dato’ Safian Ismail has stopped such raid on other convenient outlets, he should be reminded of the need to respect the Constitution and show greater sensitivity towards the feelings of non-Muslims. Such raid could have offended non-Muslims. He should therefore tender his sincere apology to the people of Kuantan on behalf of MPK, especially the non-Muslims in Kuantan.

Non-UMNO MPK councilors from MCA, MIC and Gerakan should also be held responsible for failing to protect the rights of the non-Muslims. What Kuantan MP, Dato’ Fu Ah Kiow had mentioned in the press when he criticized MPK over the raid is meaningless if he fails to convey the same message to the Malay community. Mutual understanding can only be achieved through genuine dialogue. Fu also mentioned that he has contacted Dato’ Safian twice and has ordered State Assemblyman for Teruntum Ti Lian Ker and MCA local councilors to follow up on this issue.

DAPSY is surprised to learn of such comments as MCA representatives should have been in the very forefront to preserving the rights of non-Muslims (especially when MCA is one of the ruling component parties); not wait until such raid occurred only then they start taking action. MCA councilors should have highlighted the sensitivity, seriousness and importance of such action and reminded MPK to abide by the spirit of Merdeka Constitution during the previous full council board Meetings.

Does their failure to do so mean that they have not been doing their job since day one, when they failed to highlight the sensitivity, seriousness and importance of this matter, especially when MCA is part of the ruling party?

DAPSY believes that there are many ways to ensure Muslims avoid from consuming alcoholic drinks. Strengthening the noble teachings of Islam to avoid alcoholic drinks is one of the many methods instead of denying the constitutional right of non-Muslims to buy alcoholic drinks.

Meanwhile, Malaysians should be cautious that such policy is a direct reflection of UMNO’s Islamisation policy, especially after former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir’s public declaration that Malaysia is an Islamic State on September 20, 2001.

Malaysians should also understand that this is an obvious indication of the failure of proper checks and balances in many of our local councils nowadays. This is the reason why local government elections should be restored to give taxpayers the right to choose their own representatives in the local councils.