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FT Minister: New Guidelines For Issuing Of Liquor Licenses To Be Ready Next Month

FT Minister: New Guidelines For Issuing Of Liquor Licenses To Be Ready Next Month

Several groups have called for DBKL to unfreeze the issuing of liquor licenses so that they can continue their business.

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The guideline for the issuance of new liquor licenses is expected to be ready next month.

What you need to know: According to Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa, five new members have been appointed to the licensing board and they are expected to convene a meeting next month.

He said the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) believes that current practices need to be reviewed to make the situation safer for the public, adding that new licenses cannot be issued until proper guidelines are available.

He also explained that currently, the government had not suspended any liquor licenses, but only frozen the issuance of new ones after several incidences of road accidents involving drunk drivers were reported.

He revealed that a total of 2,096 liquor licenses had been issued under the previous Pakatan Harapan government, adding that many of these would only expire in September, and so far only around 200 have applied for renewals.

Meanwhile, there were only 69 new applications for liquor licenses.

Why it matters: Many businesses, such as hoteliers, restaurants, bars, wholesalers, importers and several other merchant groups are suffering financially from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. With the freezing of liquor licenses, these businesses are facing the probability that they will be losing their jobs.

However, with the recent reports of lives lost due to irresponsible individuals driving while being inebriated, there is definitely a need for stricter regulations.

How it got here: Wong Hon Wai (PH-Bukit Bendera) had asked the Ministry when the issuance of new liquor licenses would be allowed to resume during Dewan Rakyat session today (28 July).

On 1 June, DBKL announced that they would be freezing the issuance of liquor licenses in the wake of several road accidents involving drunk drivers.

Read more:
Guidelines for liquor licenses to be ready next month, says FT Minister (The Star)
Business groups urge DBKL to unfreeze liquor licences, warn thousands of jobs at risk (Malay Mail)
DBKL freezes new liquor licence permits (The Star)


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