CNY is less than 2 weeks away, and not only the decorations are up, but many alcohol production companies have started to organise events in malls around Malaysia to attract potential customers. A politician, however, is not happy with events that promote the sale of alcohol.
A Carlsberg event is currently ongoing at Sunway Carnival Mall, Penang, and Perikatan Nasional’s Ustaz Muhammad Fawwaz has stepped in following complaints from some of the visitors of the mall regarding the massive sales of alcoholic products. Just yesterday (January 9), Fawwaz and his team visited the mall to speak with the management about the event, which caused discomfort among some visitors.
Fawwaz managed to speak to the organisers of the event and conveyed what he really had in mind.
“We insist to ban any sale of promotion of alcohol on a large scale, like what’s going on in the main concourse of Sunway Carnival Mall,” Fawwaz said in his Facebook post.
He also revealed that the organisers were not only happy to discuss but they also understood the protest, and will do what’s necessary to hold the event privately within this week.
Fawwaz has his own reasons to protest the massive and public sale of alcohol at the mall, and it has to the with the possible consequences that may stem from consuming alcohol.
“The implication of alcohol is not only about getting drunk but also how it leads us far from having the state of a healthy mind.”
According to a statement that Fawwaz released, the massive and public sale of alcohol is like “challenging the sensitivity of the Muslim community“. Fawwaz said that the event is like promoting drunk driving which will only claim more lives.
The MP for Permatang Pauh added that the ban on the public sale of alcohol is also due to the sensitivity of Muslims and other communities around the area, and said he hopes that such an event will not be organised in the future.
“Promoting alcohol does not align with the 5th National Principles – Courtest and Morality. The consumers will be prompted to do immoral things.”
Fellow Penangites, what do you think of this move? Do you think holding the event privately is a win-win situation for every party?
Also read: Politician Says Muslim Workers in Short Skirts & Selling Alcohol are a Concern
