Credit to the 'Nutgraph'
By Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria
PAS‘s move to implement a blanket ban on the sale of alcohol in all Muslim-majority areas in Selangor has now given us an opportunity to draw up guidelines on alcohol sale. While their call for a ban might seem drastic, it must not be viewed from a moralistic or from only an Islamic perspective. This call for a ban is an opportunity for us to recognise the problems associated with alcohol abuse, which is acknowledged by all the world’s major religions.
There are major social and health-related problems associated with alcohol abuse among the natives of Sabah and Sarawak, among the Orang Asli and sections of the Indian Malaysian community in Peninsular Malaysia. There are so many silent sufferers, especially women and children, who are victims of alcoholics and other behavioural problems arising from alcohol consumption.
The Consumers Association of Penang has undertaken many studies on this matter and proven that there is a social-impact dimension involved as well. Hence, while PAS was speaking for the Muslim community, many of the social issues and abuses are among non-Muslim communities.
Society has already accepted that certain types of human behaviour can affect oneself and others. In the case of smoking, the Health Ministry and other authorities have undertaken many measures to restrict where one can smoke in public places, and on cigarette company sponsorship and advertisement. These initiatives are done in the interest of the common good.
A total ban of alcohol has not been effective in the past. Nonetheless, there is still an urgent need for Malaysian society to discuss further the issues arising from the negative and abusive aspects of unrestricted sale and availability of alcohol.
Currently there are already some forms of restrictions on alcohol. For example, one cannot drink and drive; alcohol can only be sold in licensed shops; alcohol cannot be sold to underaged individuals; and there are restricted hours for places which sell and serve alcohol. There are laws to curtail the production and sale of illegal and unlicensed alcoholic products as well.
The problems we face have often been associated with weak enforcement by the local authorities. There must be some public outcry on this matter because of the negative impact of alcohol abuse.
Some restrictions on the places and locations where alcohol is sold are necessary. For example, not permitting the sale of alcohol in or near residential areas and schools might be necessary. This will include all kinds of residential areas.
Designated places where the sale and consumption of alcohol can take place should also be regulated by the local authority. For example, it might be healthy not consuming alcohol in a public park or even during a football game.
While this proposal is being advocated by PAS, my interest is as a sociologist from a social work background. I am a Christian by conviction and belief. Therefore, let us not discuss social issues and concerns from a perspective that divides us. Let’s find alliances and collaborations across religions.
Public education
Alcohol producers, promoters and retailers have not embarked on public education on the potential of alcohol addiction. The government has not done enough to address the resultant abusive behaviour and health-related problems. Currently, there are no counselling programmes and if there are any, they would be inadequate. There are also no rehabilitation services like for drug addiction.
I strongly advocate that alcohol producers and the related industry pay a levy from their annual sales for public education on alcohol abuse and addiction. They should also take greater responsibility for the rehabilitation of alcoholics. Some systematic intervention programmes are necessary to assist women and children who face abuse and violence. Federal and state agencies must address these concerns.
Maybe the Selangor government could take the lead in providing the guidelines necessary for healthy living and ensure that all responsible will put human lives before profits.
Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria is principle research fellow at the Institute of Ethnic Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Views expressed in this article are his own.
Tulisan mufti itu disiarkan oleh akhbar 
Mereka berpendapat, dengan menghormati ilmu Harussani, pihaknya merasakan kaedah itu adalah yang terbaik bagi menidakkan semua pandangan yang telah dikemukakan secara terbuka.
In his speech he has without clutter spelt out that “PAS upholds and defends the rights of all Malaysians regardless of their faith and not just Malays”. Now, contrast this with that of UMNO’s “untuk bangsa, agama dan negara” blood-chilling war cry with drawn kris.
J. D. Lovrenciear
Have you ever wondered why the Kelantanese repeatedly keep voting their PAS political party into power at almost every general election? The Kelantanese who work in the federal capital and those who are permanently economically rooted in the State of Kelantan remain united on one issue: it must be PAS and none other.
Mind you, when you talk of Kelantanese it also includes the Chinese and Indians too, lest we forget.
Now, throughout the Mahathir era (or regime if you prefer), the mainstream media was exploited to the hilt to frighten the rest of the nation into believing that PAS members are turbaned fanatics who ruled by the sword.
Naïve and little travelled west coast Malaysians who never ventured into Kelantan swallowed hook and line and were so prejudiced that they saw in PAS a near-madness that must be avoided. To them, the story of PAS as a fanatic that will rob everyone of the freedom of humanity was a ‘sold’ conclusion.
But that ‘demonic’ PAS has survived all the agony and black-listing by the ‘Mahathiristic’ regime. Malaysians who dared to venture into the PAS State of Kelantan soon discovered to their shocking disbelief that there was more respect, tolerance and acceptance on the streets and in the village communes than they had back in their seemingly ‘developed’ cities ruled by UMNO.
The market place and the trading streets, the humble villages and padi fields all were being fanned by soothing breezes of acceptance and trust. Now for the still suspecting and disbelieving non-Kelantanese, they should go to Kelantan and discover for themselves. Period.
Today, the President of PAS Abdul Hadi Awang in his remarkable and admirable Policy Speech has evidenced how come PAS is relevant for the people of Kelantan and gives hope for the rest of Malaysians.
The one single element that distinguishes PAS from UMNO is, PAS remains humble while UMNO is riding high with haughtiness.
In his speech he has without clutter spelt out that “PAS upholds and defends the rights of all Malaysians regardless of their faith and not just Malays”. Now, contrast this with that of UMNO’s “untuk bangsa, agama dan negara” blood-chilling war cry with drawn kris.
Who is humble and who is haughty?
Consistent with the teachings and glory of Islam that is spreading across the four corners of the world today, the President has with undeterred faith upheld that “Islam is not tied to any race or national identity, and its basic tenets pushed for fairness for a plural society with people from different religions”.
Now compare that noble and wisdom inspired statement with the numerous calls by UMNO claiming that UMNO will fight to death and blood-spilling and even wage ‘jihad’ to defend its version of Islam against other Malaysians.
Who is humble and who is a humbug?
The President of PAS further reiterated, without fear nor favor that the people’s party PAS has “embraced the idea of pluralism in a society and the need to care for all races using the principles of Islam as the main guideline”.
But UMNO would marshal till this day that one race’s rights are being threatened by another; that one race’s religion is being threatened by another.
Now where is humility and wherein rests haughtiness?
Under the Tun Doctor’s premiership, when the internet was not heard of, we would probably not even have heard of PAS’ policy speech in its true form. What we would have been dispensed with in carefully prescribed rations is a spiteful of fanatic rabid statements spewing from the President of PAS that would frighten any country rabbit or naive town mouse into the hole for fear.
Syabas, to PAS for its insightful positioning of its party’s tested and proven principles. Kudos to PAS for consistently giving back to Islam its rightful honor, well deserved meaning and respectful position in a multiracial society here and in the contemporary world.
Now, what can we say of UMNO?