KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) has urged the government to include resolving of gambling and liquor sale banning issues, as the Key Performance Indexes (KPI) for its 100 days report card.
Its President Tan Sri T.C Goh said the government should address the said issues based on the Federal Constitution, in order to avoid triggering such conflicting scenarios or situations of “one country two system” or the “local authority superseding the Federal government”.
He said, the Federal government or the Cabinet should through the government of the Federal Territory which comes under its jurisdiction, or the state government of the same political camp, to effectively resolve policies which adversely affect the non-Muslim community in the country.
This includes, to conduct an amicable discussion with the affected groups or the non Muslim organisations, to review and to rectify such policies, so as to avoid the issues from getting out of hands and ruining our long-existed ‘social contract’ and racial harmony, as well as the “Malaysian Family” concept which is being strongly advocated by the present Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.
He reiterated that, the Cabinet should quickly intervene to fully resolve the various ongoing controversies, which include the decision of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to ban the sale of liquor in grocery stores and Chinese medicine shops; the Kedah state government’s decision to ban gambling and to restrict the sale of alcoholic drinks; the Perak state Selama District Council’s decision to impose a ban on the sale of liquor in all convenient stores, starting January 2022; and the latest policy of the Perlis local authority mandating that starting next year all business premises, the Chinese medicine halls included, are required to for liquor sale permit in order for them to sell liquor.
He underscored that, Malaysia is a multiracial country with diverse cultures and faiths, hence the government and the local authorities must always respect and take into consideration of such unique set up which is well reflected in the Federal Constitution and Social Contract, when introducing policies which might adversely affect the non Muslim community.
He added that, under a multiracial set up, no one should forcibly impose one’s religious belief and views on another person or community of different religion.
“We fully respect and recognize the doctrines of all religions which advise the followers to be kind, and to observe their religious precepts while conducting their daily affairs, but we also wish to emphasise that all worthy religions are harmonious and forgiving by nature,” he said.
Goh who is also President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) stressed this in a statement issued today, in response to the said issues, which had caused quite a stir among the non Muslim community, and he hoped that the Federal Cabinet and the relevant state governments could take serious note of and to quickly resolve them.
He stressed that, in the midst of a pandemic, all quarters should better focus on such pressing matters like stimulating economic recovery and addressing issues which affect the people’s livelihood, instead of playing up sensitive issues which would only make things worse.
He further opined that, except for some individual cases, the sale of liquor or its consumption should not be solely blamed for the occurrence of road accidents, as such a biased notion is unfair to the legitimate business operators.
He then welcomed and commended the Federal Cabinet’s recent ‘win-win’ approach in resolving the Timah whisky controversy a-la “Malaysian Family” spirit. He thus hoped the same approach can be adopted towards resolving the ongoing ban or restriction on liquor sale in the country.
He underscored that, whether it is the liquor ban or the ban imposed on gambling by the Kedah state government, both are in contradiction with the “Malaysian Family” concept, and is much regrettable.-pr/BNN
