No reason to ban Oktoberfest if rules met, Selangor exco says
(Malay Mail Online) – Selangor authorities have no reason to ban Oktoberfest beer festival if organisers fulfil the conditions necessary to hold the events, a state official said today
Selangor executive councillor in charge of local government Ean Yong Hian Wah said that the Oktoberfest organisers had in previous years obtained operating permits from local authorities and they were “aware” of the stipulations in conducting such events.
“If the organisers fulfilled the same conditions, there should be no reason to not give them a permit,” Ean Yong said in a statement here.
He denied that the Selangor government had passed the buck on the matter to local city councils, or imposed additional conditions for the beer festival.
“The local authority is the agency which grants a permit for any activity or programme organised in places like shopping malls.
“In this case, the organisers have to apply for a temporary entertainment permit,” the DAP state lawmaker added.
Yesterday, Ean Yong had said the onus was on local city councils to issue any approval permits for the beer festival, and that the Oktoberfest organisers could submit an application to the city council to hold the event but it would be subject to several conditions.
The DAP state lawmaker also confirmed that the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) has taken down the billboards promoting Oktoberfest as it had not been approved by the local city council.
Selangor PAS has demanded the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Selangor government to enact by-laws based on Shariah principles to stop future promotion of events where alcohol ― forbidden to Muslims ― will be present.
Several 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.
The Muslim groups’ ire against Oktoberfest was raised at the sight of billboards in Shah Alam ― a majority-Malay city ― promoting the event, though the festival is scheduled this weekend at a shopping centre in Petaling Jaya, a multi-racial metropolitan city.
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.
