'I'm not against the sale of alcohol' - Pas man
GEORGETOWN - Permatang Pauh MP Muhammad Fawwaz Mat Jan denies claims that he had prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages in a mall in Seberang Jaya.
The Pas member said he only requested for the mall's management to sell alcohols at a special area which was more closed rather than selling it openly which could be seen by visitors including Muslims.
He said he understood the culture of a plural society in the country and the sale of alcoholic beverages there was a promotion in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year.
“I received a complaint from the public who felt uneasy with the sale of alcohols being done openly in the mall. As a representative of the people who has been given the mandate in the election, it is my responsibility to oversee such complaints.
“I did not come to the mall and conducted a survey on the sale of alcohols there. I was only carrying out my responsibility and discussed with the mall’s management regarding the sale of alcohols in a special area (non-halal sections) prepared at the premises.
“I am not prohibiting the sale (of alcohol) because I understand it is a business and it is primarily for non-Muslims to celebrate Chinese New Year. However, even though it is temporary, there are some who are uneasy with it being sold openly, that is all,” he said when contacted today.
He explained that the meeting he attended on Jan 9, was upon invitation by the mall’s management.
“Upon receiving a public complaint, I contacted the management of the mall to confirm the complaints. Afterwards the management invited me to discuss the issue, that’s why I went to the mall.
“When I am invited, I will come. I was not raiding the place,” he said.
Recently, Fawwaz went to the mall and stated his objection towards the sale of alcohol in the open area.
He described the mall's management's action allowing the promotion to be done openly as not respecting the sensitivity towards Muslims.
It is understood that the promotion of the alcoholic beverages was done in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year.
Commenting on his meeting with the management, he said it went smoothly and the management agreed that the promotions should be made in a much closed manner.
“We are not asking for the sales to be stopped, we want it to be sold in a closed section. We understand the sale of alcohol is for non-Muslims, there’s room provided (for sales), that is not an issue. If there is an open sale made in an area where there were no Muslims, there would be no issue.
“That is all. There are no issue, it was just misinterpreted by the media stating that I was prohibiting the sale of alcohol, that confused some members of the public. We understand the sensitivity of the issue, that’s why we were there to discuss (with the management),” he said.
On Wednesday Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau asked for the issue of alcohol promotions for the Chinese New Year not to be politicised.
He said Gerakan received a fair explanation from Fawwaz regarding his actions of rejecting such promotions.
Lau said as the people’s representative in that area with people who were predominantly Malays and Muslims, Fawwaz’s actions were justified.
