ALOR SETAR: Non-Muslim PAS supporters have urged PAS-led states not to ban the sale of alcohol outright, but to continue their ban on 4D shops.
Speaking at the party’s muktamar (general assembly), R Hareetaran, the assistant secretary of the PAS supporters’ wing, held up his home state of Kelantan as an example in imposing curbs on alcohol.
“We must find ways to control alcohol sales implemented by former Kelantan menteri besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. If you ban it outright, it would give a negative impression of PAS to non-Muslims. It would be used as ammunition by our foes to attack us.
“As for the gaming, we fully support efforts to keep it banned,” he told a cheering crowd at the assembly, held at Kedah PAS headquarters here.
Last November, restrictions on alcohol sales in districts with a high Malay population were announced in kedah.
The state government also announced an effective ban of 4D and gaming shops throughout the state, saying it has ordered local councils to not renew the shops’ annual business licenses.
A short reprieve was given later, where licenses would not be renewed after Dec 31 this year, as part of a “no gambling” state policy from Jan 1, 2023.
Hareetaran also called for the slogan “PAS for all”, used for the 2008 general election, to be reintroduced in all campaign materials, social media posts, and speeches by party leaders.
He said that way, PAS can tap into votes from a larger section of the population comprising people of other ethnic groups and beliefs.
“I’m confident that PAS will be the choice of voters in the coming general election,” he said.