Menkumham Yasonna Affirms The Bill On The Prohibition Of Alcoholic Drinks Is Still Only A Proposal

Menkumham Yasonna Laoly (DOK. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Law and Human Rights (HAM) Yasonna Laoly said the government had not yet discussed the possibility of the Bill on the Prohibition of Alcoholic Drinks being included in the 2021 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas). This is because this draft has not officially become a proposal by the DPR.

"Until now, we have not yet discussed the possibility of including the Prolegnas 2021 Bill on the Prohibition of Alcoholic Drinks which will soon be implemented with the government and the DPR. Because we heard, the Legislation Body (Baleg) of the DPR RI itself has not yet had one language regarding the Bill on the Prohibition of Alcoholic Drinks. the government is still in a position to see the progress, "Yasonna was quoted as saying in a written statement received by VOI, Monday, November 16.

The Chairperson of the PDI-P DPP also asked the public not to be involved in the polemics that arose as a result of this draft law because the process was still very long. Moreover, this draft is a proposal or initiative from several members of the DPR RI and has not officially become an institutional proposal.

"This bill is also not yet official as a DPR initiative proposal, it is still limited to a plan submitted to Baleg. Therefore, I hope there is no need for excessive polemic regarding the Bill on the Prohibition of Alcoholic Drinks in the community," he said.

The same request also came from the Deputy Speaker of the DPR RI, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad. He said that the draft law is currently still in the stage of listening to proposals' explanations.

"For the current period, it is still in the stage of providing an explanation from the proposer to the Legislation Body (Baleg). So that the dynamics that develop in society, I think there is no need to overdo it and we will see the extent of the process," Dasco told reporters, Friday, November 13. .

It is known that this draft law was proposed by 21 members of the Indonesian Parliament, 18 of whom came from PPP, 1 person from the Gerindra Party, and 2 from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

Returning to Dasco, he explained that the Bill on the Prohibition of Alcoholic Drinks was not actually new. This is because this draft law has been discussed since the last period and is blocked for several reasons, such as disrupting the liquor industry. Because it was previously blocked, the Bill on the Prohibition of Alcoholic Drinks was then repeated to the initial stage, namely hearing the explanation of the proposer to the DPR RI Baleg.

Previously, a member of the DPR RI Baleg from the United Development Party (PPP) faction, Illliza Sa'aduddin Jamal, said that the bill was proposed to protect the public from drinking alcoholic beverages.

"This bill aims to protect the public from negative impacts, create order and peace in society from alcoholic drinkers. This bill is also to raise public awareness about the dangers of alcoholic beverages," said Illiza as quoted from his written statement, Thursday, November 12.

He explained that there are several points on the proposed prohibition of alcoholic drinks. Among other things, the prohibition on Muslims and other religions from producing, importing, storing, distributing and / or selling, as well as consuming class A, B and C drinks, traditional alcoholic drinks, and mixed and concocted alcoholic drinks.

As proposer, Illiza said, the draft law will still maintain the plurality of society because there will be exceptions in its implementation.

"The prohibition of consuming alcoholic drinks is exempted for limited interests such as customary interests, religious rituals, tourism, pharmacy and places permitted by statutory regulations," he said.

Illiza said that this prohibition was needed because alcoholic drinks had not been specifically regulated in the form of legislation but were only included in the Criminal Code with a general article and was not explicitly stated in it. Thus, the discussion of the draft law on prohibition of alcoholic beverages should be continued and passed for the benefit of future generations.