Kelantan Govt Reportedly Bans Hotels from Serving Alcohol in the State, Even for Non-Muslim Weddings

In Kelantan, the Kota Bahru City Council and the State Religious Affairs Department have reportedly banned alcohol in hotels in the state. This includes the ban on alcohol serving in non-Muslim weddings.

The matter was shared by the chairman of DAP Kelantan, Poan Yin Chai, who said that hotels in the state will no longer serve beer, wine, or any form of alcohol during Chinese weddings. As reported by Guang Ming Daily, Poan asserted that he was alerted about the matter by a friend who works in the industry.

Poan added that he had immediately informed the matter to the Minister of Housing and Local Government, Nga Kor Ming, who, at the time of writing (December 14), has yet to respond to the matter.

“I was told that the hotels were warned not to serve alcohol and not to allow anyone to bring alcohol into the premises, or the state government will take action,” Poan said.

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“Why now?”

Poan also said he was baffled by the changes, as alcohol for the non-Muslims in the state was allowed in the past.

“The Kelantan state government has always been PAS, and the hotels in the state have always served food and beverages that meet the Halal standards. I don’t understand why the sudden change in the rules regarding alcohol today.”

The Chairman of DAP Kelantan has requested an explanation from the state government regarding the matter.

“I can’t imagine a ‘Halal’ Chinese wedding.”

In the meantime, Sin Chew Daily also reported that it has received an update from a reader who is in the F&B industry in Kelantan, who said the latest rules set by the Kelantan state government are as follows:

• All raw ingredients must have Halal certifications
• No alcoholic beverages are allowed in the hotel areas
• Halal certification will be revoked, and fines will be issued if operators violate the rules.

What do you think of this?

Also read: Kelantan Govt Says Cinemas in the State Must Play Movies With Lights On to Prevent ‘Unhealthy’ Activities