After KL success, PAS takes aim at Oktoberfest beer festivals in Selangor

KUALA LUMPUR — After leading the charge to foil a beer festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s main opposition Islamist party Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) has set its sights on at least two Oktoberfest beer festivals scheduled to take place in shopping malls in the country’s state of Selangor.

PAS information chief Nasrudin Hassan said four members from the state’s chapter and the party’s ulama information chief Mohd Khairuddin Aman had met with the local authorities to express opposition to an Oktoberfest beer festival at One Utama Shopping Complex in Petaling Jaya.

“PAS has voiced out its views and suggestions to the Mayor of Petaling Jaya City Council, including submitting its rejection towards the application of the event as a social responsibility effort from our end to advocate the rights of the people of Selangor,” Mr Hassan posted on his Facebook page yesterday.

He said PAS has consistently opposed festivals that celebrate the open consumption of alcohol since 2014.

He asserted that the party opposed such festivals without denying the rights of the non-Muslims to consume alcohol.

“Because alcohol festivals are against the way of life for Malaysians, therefore, PAS hopes the application for Oktoberfest 2017 festival will not be approved,” he wrote.

PAS had similarly opposed an Oktoberfest festival in 2014, and caused enough controversy to prompt the Selangor government to move the event to an open-air car park at the One Utama Shopping Complex.

The upmarket mall, located in a predominantly Chinese neighbourhood, has been holding Oktoberfest events over the past 12 years.

The party is also against a similar event scheduled at another mall 30km further south.

On Wednesday, Selangor PAS Youth chief Syarhan Humaizi Abdul Halim led a group of members to hand a protest note against the event at Klang’s Centro Mall to the local police chief Mazelan Paijan. “We hope the festival will not be held here or anywhere else in the country,” Mr Syarhan was quoted as saying by news portal Free Malaysia Today.

He called on the organisers to consider the sensitivities of those who were “uncomfortable” with the event, adding that it did not matter if the event was held at a private venue because the main concern was public safety and security.

The Centro Mall German F&B Festival is scheduled to be held on Oct 12 and 13.

Malaysian media reports have earlier said the Klang Municipal Council had given the go-ahead for the event, provided it did not contain the word “Oktoberfest” and barred Muslims from attending.

PAS recently opposed the Better Beer Festival in Kuala Lumpur, which was subsequently cancelled by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

PAS central committee member Riduan Mohd Nor had claimed that the beer festival would encourage immorality and lead to criminal acts, free sex and rape.

“It is something that is shameful for an Islamic country like Malaysia, when ‘mungkar’ (treacherous) programmes can easily gain a place in the society’s heart, and it is allowed to be organised without obstruction,” he said in a statement on PAS’ mouthpiece HarakahDaily.

It was the latest sign of creeping conservatism in Malaysia, where critics say increasingly vocal Islamic hardliners and politicians are eroding a traditionally moderate brand of the religion.

DBKL’s move was initially roundly criticised, with even minority parties in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition warning that the move will embolden extremists in the country.

But the authorities later denied the cancellation was due to pressure from PAS, and cited security concerns for the decision, with Malaysian police chief Fuzi Harun saying that the event might be “sabotaged” by militants and become a target for terror plots. 
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