Why allow Oktoberfest’s billboard but not ours? Islamist group asks city council

(Malay Mail Online) – Islamist group Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) said today it was baffled that the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) allowed billboards promoting the Oktoberfest beer festival but had rejected the group’s application to put up an advertisement back in August.

The group said it is at a loss as to how Isma’s billboard calling for the supremacy of Islam and the sovereignty of the Malays in the “Malay land” was deemed “sensitive”, but a billboard promoting the beer event was not.

“We find it strange when a call to fight for religion and race was rejected for being ‘sensitive’, but an advertisement for the beer festival was allowed without considering that it is an issue that disturbs the peace of the locals.

“How did MBSA do its review?” asked the group’s secretary-general Dr Ahmad Kamsani Samingan on its website.

The group claimed that MBSA should not have allowed the promotion of a “vice festival”, which it claims was allegedly opposed by the public, as it is an issue which he said is “very sensitive” to Muslims.

Back in August, Isma had suggested that two local councils were against Islam and Malays for rejecting its attempt to install two billboards calling for “Malay power” and “Islamic supremacy”.

ISMA criticised MBSA and the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) for refusing to approve the billboards then, saying they should not have been rejected as they did not contain provocative messages.

Yesterday, Selangor Umno said it was disappointed with MBSA for approving Oktoberfest billboards, claiming they were not suitable with the nature of the Shah Alam vicinity.

Muslim groups including 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.

Oktoberfest is held annually in Malaysia with the two biggest breweries GAB and Carlsberg holding several drinking parties in major towns nationwide.

Oktoberfest was originally celebrated in Munich, Germany to accompany horse races, but has grown into “the world’s largest funfair”, attracting millions of visitors every year.