SHAH ALAM, July 3: An enactment to prohibit drinking alcohol openly in public places such as playgrounds should be enforced by the Selangor Government look after the harmony of residents and to prevent social problems.
This is because, according to the Sri Andalas Assemblyman, Dr Xavier Jayakumar, he received numerous complaints from residents who are disturbed by alcohol drinking in public areas by unscrupulous people.
According to him, the enactment has been applied in several countries such as Canada, Australia, Finland, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Spain and the United States.
“The enactment which prohibits drinking alcohol in public places should be approved in the near future to give power to Local Authorities (PBT) and the police to implement it.
“I have received many complaints from the public about people drinking at playgrounds till late at night and leaving their empty bottles scattered in the area.
“This situation is a nuisance to the local residents’ harmony when they are exposed to noise from the group from late at night till early in the morning,” he said when debating the address from DYMM (His Royal Highness) the Sultan of Selangor here yesterday.
He said that the enforcement of the permit application should also be take into consideration if there is a demand form the public to bring in liquor to public areas during a celebration.
He also urged the State Government to prevent the sale of cheap liquor which can be easily found in grocery stores or supermarkets around the country.
This is because, he stressed, cheap liquor have high alcohol contents and the risk of damaging health and leading to social problems.
In the meantime, Dr Xavier also suggested that factories producing cheap liquor should be limited to three years of operation only.
