Letter to Editor
BOOZERS in Malaysia must be reeling. Fresh from the Budget 2026 revelation of an impending 10% sin tax hike effective Nov 1,, there is now renewed call to ban alcoholic tipples on board national flag carrier Malaysia Airlines (MAS).
Apparently, Perikatan Nasional (PN) Hulu Selangor MP Mohd Hasnizan Harun has mooted a blanket ban on booze on all MAS flights when debating on the Supply (Budget) Bill 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday (Oct 13).
“I’ve seen for myself the dilemma faced by Muslim flight attendants who’re forced to serve something that is clearly haram in Islam,” claimed the PAS lawmaker.
“This is not a question of denying the rights of anyone but a question of respecting religion and the sensitivities of the majority of Malaysian citizens.”
Editor’s Note: Recall that PAS Youth had in 2017 urged MAS to stop serving alcohol completely following a bomb scare which forced flight MH128 which was bound from Kuala Lumpur from Melbourne to make an emergency landing on May 31 that year after a 25-year-old Sri Lankan national tried to enter the cockpit while claiming to have a bomb.
The man was detained by the Australian police who said they did not believe the incident was linked to terrorism (NOR DRUNKARDNESS) but instead citied mental health issues.
Business viability
Fully-shariah compliant airlines is not a new concept. Anyone remember Rayani Air? Malaysia’s first Islamic airline lasted a mere five months before folding due to management, safety and security issues, pilot strikes and lack of funding.
That alone points to the question if such a concept is commercially viable in the first place
Rayani Air prior to its June 13, 2016 shut down was the world’s forth fully-shariah compliant airline after Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA), Saudi Arabian Airlines and Iran Air. Malaysia may be oil-rich but hey, our airline industry may not be in the same league as those boys.
Aviation industry is a highly-competitive venture, cut-throat even some might say. With Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY 2026) in full swing, perhaps, economic realities will have to dictate the scenario as unpleasant as that may sound to certain ears.
Now, the failed Rayani Air experiment proves there is more to this aviation malarkey than whether booze is served on board. Is there another entity willing to try?
Given Hasnizan’s claim that this happy hour in the skies is making both Muslim crew and passengers uncomfortable, there surely is a massive market for it, yes?
Alcohol-abstinent passengers are free to choose which airline they wish to use or even consider alternative modes of transport if this issue is such a sticking point.
As for crew members, perhaps they need to consider alternative employment if it goes against their beliefs.
The alarming trend of late is how much attention has focused on booze. Whether it is a minister having a toast at a gala dinner or the right to enjoy an in-flight tipple, it is being played up as an affront to sensitivities of the majority.
I think what we really need is to be focusing on bigger issues such as improving the quality of service to ensure VMY 2026 is a roaring success.
How about helping MAS become a stable and consistently profit-turning enterprise amid difficult and challenging economic climate?
It is often claimed that alcohol dulls the senses but in this instance, it has further diluted the issues that need our real attention. – Oct 14, 2025
Editor’s Note: Booze in the sky aside, orthodox politicians are also known to have kicked up a fuss about the suitability of attire donned by MAS air stewardess which they claimed have prevented Muslim flight attendants from covering their aurat (female body parts which should not be exposed).
Teetotal flyer
Shah Alam
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia
Main image credit: Daily Mail
