The government has ordered all breweries nationwide to shutter their operations during the total lockdown from today until June 14 as they do not fall under ‘essential services’.
In a statement, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said food and beverage factories that provide daily essentials can operate. Breweries, however, do not fall under this category.
Earlier, several parties had wondered why Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd was allowed to operate and if it was considered an ‘essential service’.
An International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) spokesman had earlier in the day, said that Carlsberg provided beverages, and as such, was allowed to operate as per the National Security Council’s regulations. Apparently, that has now changed.
Carlsberg’s brewery is located in Shah Alam, Selangor.
Carlsberg had, on its website, stated the company had last year contributed RM895.8 million in excise duties to the Malaysian and Singaporean governments for its combined operations, RM53.6 million in corporate taxes and RM80.3 million in Sales and Service Tax (SST) for Malaysia.
