Are new liquor licenses being issued in Kuala Lumpur?

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New Liquor Licenses Are Not Being Issued in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has confirmed that there is no lifting of the freeze on the issuance of new licenses for the sale of liquor at sundry shops, convenience stores, and Chinese medicine halls within the city. The Excise Licensing Board of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur (ELBKL) is currently only processing license renewal applications, not new ones.
Existing Ban Remains in Effect

A recent statement circulating claimed that the ELBKL had withdrawn the ban on liquor sales in these types of premises on November 23, 2023. However, DBKL has clarified that this information is inaccurate. Any consideration for the sale of liquor in such establishments remains subject to the existing guidelines that have been established.
Only Renewals Were Approved

On November 23, 2023, the ELBKL convened and approved a total of 1,519 license renewal applications. This meeting focused solely on renewing existing licenses, not on granting any new permits for liquor sales in the specified retail outlets.
DBKL's Role in Licensing

DBKL serves as the secretariat for the ELBKL, managing the processing of liquor license applications within Kuala Lumpur. This administrative function is carried out in accordance with the delegation of authority as stipulated under Regulation 18 of the Excise (Licensing Board) Regulations 1977.
Prior Prohibition Implemented in 2021

The current freeze on new liquor licenses follows a previous prohibition implemented by DBKL on November 1, 2021. This earlier ban on the sale of liquor in sundry shops, convenience stores, and Chinese medicine halls had previously generated dissatisfaction among some non-Muslim consumers in the capital.

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Are new liquor licenses being issued in Kuala Lumpur?

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