Even The BBC Is Talking About How Malaysia Is Trying To Ban Oktoberfest

A Billboard In Shah Alam Promoting An Oktoberfest Event Has Been Declared Illegal And Subsequently Taken Down

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The controversial billboard publicising the German beer festival Oktoberfest scheduled this weekend at a shopping mall has been declared illegal.

Shah Alam Mayor Datuk Mohd Jaafar Mohd Attan said promotional activities of the event including the putting up of the billboard did not received the approval from the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA).

"The Mentri Besar will make the necessary announcement after his exco meeting as I had already brief him on the matter. "Everyone has been advised to be extra careful and sensitive as we are living in a multicultural and multi-ethnic society," he told reporters at the Hari Raya Aidil Adha programme at the Wisma MBSA on Wednesday.

On The International Front, BBC News Has Reported About Malaysia's Bid To Ban The German Beer Festival

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Some Muslim groups in Malaysia are trying to get the country's Oktoberfest banned on the grounds that it's offensive to the community, it appears. Apart from issues surrounding alcohol, one of the major bones of contention appears to be a publicity poster for the Carlsberg Malaysia-backed festival, showing a waitress in a low-cut German costume carrying six steins of beer. Publicity stunts leading up to the festival also featured Malaysian women in similarly low-cut mini-dresses in company colours.

The Problem With Oktoberfest First Surfaced When A Local Facebook Page 'Malaysians Against Wild Concerts' Demanded For The Cancellation Of Oktoberfest Events In The Nation

The Facebook page, called Rakyat Malaysia Tolak Konsert Liar (Malaysians Against Wild Concerts) deems the Oktoberfest celebrations to be inconsistent with the values of a Muslim-majority (or in its own estimation, a Muslim) country like Malaysia, and urges its 3,700+ followers to call for the cancellation of the Oktoberfest events scheduled in the country.

Muslim Groups Including Isma Echoed The Calls, Claiming That Oktoberfest Events Will "Bring Ruin" To Malaysia As An "Islamic Nation"

Muslim groups, including Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma), have taken aim at Oktoberfest this month, claiming the event will tarnish Malaysia’s image as an “Islamic country” and “bring ruin” to the nation. Although the event is promoted to non-Muslims, several Muslim groups have urged their supporters to rally against the event and venues that serve alcohol as part of the festival.

Another Muslim Group Equates The Approval Of Oktoberfest Billboards To Invitation For Muslims In The Area To Join The Beer Festival

Muslims in Selangor are demanding that Mentri Besar Azmin Ali cancel the Oktoberfest beer festival in the state for being offensive and insulting to the community, local Malay dailies reported today. Targeting one such event at the One Utama shopping centre in Petaling Jaya, one Muslim group said approval for a billboard publicising the festival appeared consent to invite Muslims in the area to join the beer festival.

“What is upsetting and can be assumed rude is that the beer festival is being organised in the month of Zulhijah, in which Muslims observe the Hajj and Qurban. “We do not have a problem with the programme (Oktoberfest) but it should be done by observing the culture and sensitivities of the Muslim-majority,” Kosmo quoted the president of Ikatan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Selangor, Rosdi Long, as saying.

Rosdi was also reported saying that the commitment of the new Selangor administration to defend the sanctity of Islam, is also under test with the organising of Oktoberfest.

Comparing Oktoberfest Events To "Mass-Promoted Adultery", PAS Said It Was A Vice That The Selangor State Government Must Relocate Or Cancel

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It was reported that PAS is upset over the event and has demanded that the Selangor state government to relocate or cancel the event.

PAS exco member for the Infrastructure, Public Amenities and Agricultural portfolio said events organised on a big scale and advertised openly on billboards and at supermarkets clearly go against societal norms, including those of all religions.

PAS central committee member and Temerloh MP Nasrudin Hassan also slammed the festival on his Facebook page on Monday, calling it a vice that the Federal and state government should curb.

PAS' New Selangor Exco Zaidy Abdul Talib Says Oktoberfest Events Touch On The Sensitivities Of Muslims In Malaysia As It Was Publicised On A Large Scale

Selangor PAS' newly-installed executive councillor Zaidy Abdul Talib, who is Templer assemblyman and state PAS information chief, was commenting on suggestions to ban the Oktoberfest beer festival which critics said "touches on the sensitivities of Muslims in Malaysia." He urged the Shah Alam Municipal Council to act against the billboards advertising the festival near the Saujana Hotel Subang.

He said Islam is not against non-Muslims consuming alcohol because it’s their right. However, he said, the festival was being held on a large scale and publicised through advertisements in shopping malls and billboards. “Selangor has never approved this programme. This can be deemed as an attempt to challenge the harmony that exists in the state. “The government will attempt to push through the allocation of power that the state government and local councils have in order to ban or move the festival to another venue," he said.

Claiming Oktoberfest to now be an “open vice”, the PAS leader said it is “wajib” or obligatory for authorities and all Muslims to rise up and prevent Oktoberfest from happening. “Don’t let the country be run with the cultures of sin and vices. Later, our civilisation will be ruined and our dignity will lose the blessing of Allah, followed by His wrath,” he warned.

UKM Law Professor Datin Noor Aziah Mohd Awal Takes It One Step Further And Calls The Event A Violation Of The Federal Constitution

Berita Harian quoted Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) law professor Datin Noor Aziah Mohd Awal as saying that the celebration violates the Federal Constitution. According to Noor Aziah, alcohol festivals cannot be organised in open spaces and such events are only confined to licensed alcohol selling outlets.

“The organiser has to seek for a permit as stipulated under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, if they want to proceed with the event in an open area. “However, in this case permits would not be issued at it (Oktoberfest) violates the Federal Constitution,” she was quoted saying by the daily.

On The Other Hand, PAS Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad Defended The Rights Of Non-Muslims, Drawing Flak To Himself

Yesterday, PAS lawmaker Khalid Samad also defended the Oktoberfest event, saying that Muslims have no right to tell non-Muslims what they can or cannot eat and drink, despite being criticised by his own party colleagues and religious conservatives.

He said "Islamic supremacy" and the position of Islam as the religion of the federation were not reasons for Muslims to deviate from the Islamic code to the point that they can forget about the rights of non-Muslims. To address Muslim "sensitivities", Khalid said Muslims can be barred from participating in the event or to hold Oktoberfest events in non-Muslim majority areas.

The Shah Alam MP was criticised for his remarks with some Muslim NGO leaders saying that he had “lost his moral compass” and was in the midst of an “identity crisis”.

MCA Religious Harmony Bureau Deputy Chairman Ng Chok Sin Reminded PAS And Umno That Malaysia May Be An Islamic Nation But The Laws Were Still Based On A Multiracial Country

Yesterday, MCA Religious Harmony Bureau deputy chairman Ng Chok Sin said both PAS and Umno should realise that although Islam was the religion of the federation, Malaysia’s laws were based on a multiracial and multicultural country.

“To forbid Oktoberfest just because alcoholic drinks are prohibited to Muslims is inappropriate because the event is targeted at boosting Selangor’s tourism coffers by way of attracting more tourists, not to promote alcohol consumption,” Ng said in a statement.

In Defence Of Oktoberfest Celebration, DAP MP Tony Pua Asked Political Parties Not Be To Emotional In Making A Sensitive Issue Out Of A Non-Sensitive Thing As It Encourages Intolerance

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In defence of the Oktoberfest celebration this month, a DAP lawmaker said the attacks on the event by some political parties are aimed at firing up negative emotions and encouraging intolerance among people. Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua said they were making a sensitive issue out of a non-sensitive thing. "It does not help build a moderate nation where people respect each other," he said in a statement today.

"I ask political parties that are rashly using the Oktoberfest as a target for beating to calm down, be rational and not to be emotional," he said, in response to calls by some political parties and non-governmental organisations to ban the event organised by beer company Calsberg Malaysia.

He Goes On The Explain That Drinking Was A Norm In Non-Muslim Communities And That The Oktoberfest Event Did Not Involve Muslim Participants

Pua, who is also Selangor DAP chairman, said Oktoberfest was a private event that did not involve Muslim participants, and it also was not against any law. "The event should not touch on the sensitivities of Muslims... there is no need to ban it.

Pua said Oktoberfest should not become the target of attacks, as it was only a small event used by beer companies to promote their products. "It has been organised for five years in a row without causing any negative effects on the people anywhere.”

"On days of significance like birthdays, festivals, weddings and thanksgiving celebrations, all sort of alcoholic beverages are served and consumed by the non-Muslim community. "It is a normal thing, not something shocking. It is also their right that is protected by the law."