BAGAN MP Lim Guan Eng today urged the Finance Ministry to reinstate the previous practice of 1993 by postponing the licence requirement on restaurants and coffeeshops selling beer and alcohol.
He said that such practice had been implemented by the Customs Department back then, which postponed the enforcement of such licencing that allowed coffee shops and restaurants to sell beer and alcoholic drinks without having to pay licence fees of up to RM1,300.
“Many restaurants and coffee shops that sell beer and alcoholic drinks will be largely affected if the liquor licencing regulations take effect.
“The industry will be badly affected,” said the Air Putih assemblyman during a press conference today.
Lim said that only Pakatan Harapan (PH) state governments had stated that it would not implement the licence requirement for restaurants and coffeeshops to sell beer and alcohol although the Finance Ministry would delegate the power to state governments.
Foochow Coffee Shops Owners Federation president Toon Koon Ku, who was present, was happy to note that the state government would not implement the liquor licencing policy.
Also present were Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai, Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng, Batu Lancang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong, Sungai Pinang assemblyman Lim Siew Khim and Berapit assemblyman Heng Lee Lee.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan