SHAH ALAM, 4 Aug 2009: Selangor PAS today urged that the position of the DAP's Ronnie Liu as State Local Government, Study and Research Committee chairperson be reviewed following allegations that he had interfered in enforcement by the local authorities.
"It is apt due to past incidents ... maybe [we will] shift the portfolio to somebody else. This may to some extent mitigate some of the problems that we are facing," state PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Hassan Ali told a press conference in Selangor today.
Liu (Source: selangor.gov.my) Hassan, who is also state Islamic Affairs and Malay Customs, Infrastructure and Public Facilities Committee chairperson, said he was informed by some state government officers that they were unhappy with interference by certain individuals, including Liu, in efforts to prevent the sale of liquor to Muslims in Selangor.
Liu had disputed the action of the Shah Alam City Council in seizing 70 cans and bottles of alcoholic drinks from a 7-Eleven outlet in Section 8 here on 30 July. A press report said the items were later returned to the convenience store.
Liu was also reported to have said the existing ruling on the sale of liquor in Selangor remained until a new guideline was issued by the state government.
Hassan, however, said the decision to prohibit the selling of alcoholic drinks in areas Muslim-majority areas was made at the Shah Alam City Council full-board meeting recently, following pressure from the local community.
Selangor PAS information chief Roslan Shahir Mohd Shahir said Liu had also questioned the raid by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council and Selangor Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jais) on an entertainment outlet in Bandar Sunway where Jais arrested Muslim patrons caught consuming liquor.
He said Liu had contacted and questioned the officers involved in the raid for taking the action, even though the Selangor Syariah Criminal Enactment 1995, which came into force in 1996, had categorised consuming and selling liquor as a syariah offence for Muslims.
Hassan said with these developments, Selangor PAS urged the state government to be serious in the matter by expediting the drawing up of a suitable guideline for the whole state in line with the Syariah Criminal Enactment (Selangor) 1995 to avoid any future controversy.
He stressed that the ruling only applied to Muslims as PAS had never demanded that the consumption by and sale of liquor to non-Muslims be curtailed.
Trespassing rule of law
Pua Meanwhile, DAP National Publicity Secretary Tony Pua criticised Hassan's comments in a media statement today.
Pua said Liu was only carrying out his duties responsibly, and Hassan's public rebuking "openly [trespassed] the rule of law both in Selangor and in Malaysia".
"As a member of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government under the leadership of Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, [Hassan] should resolve this matter with fellow executive councillors during the state exco or PR meetings.
"Any decision arrived at during these meetings, based on the principles of justice, accountability and transparency, should be adhered to in the spirit of a coalition government. No attempt shall be made to unilaterally impose one's views in the state government's policies," Pua added. — Bernama
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