Kok defends “civil liberty rights” to consume alcohol

(NST) – A DAP leader has come out today to assert her “civil liberty rights” to consume alcohol and party.

In defending her participation at an Oktoberfest party held in One Utama, Damansara on Saturday, DAP vice-chairman Teresa Kok said her detractors should realise that the event was not open to Muslims.

“That is what we do (outside work). Muslims were not invited because we understand their sensitivities.

“It has nothing to do with other faiths and religion,” said Kok when met at Pas headquarters.

Also present at the party was Selangor state executive councillor Elizabeth Wong.

Both of their pictures clinking beer mugs were posted on Facebook.

On the posting, Kok also clarified that she was just a “social drinker” and was even sober when the posting was uploaded that night.

“I’m a social drinker and not a ‘kaki mabuk’ (alcoholic),” said Kok.

Among the detractors of Oktoberfest parties in the country was Pas Syura council member and Temerloh member of parliament, Nasrudin Hasan Tantawi.

Nasrudin today also made a posting on Facebook concerning Oktoberfest and was apparently a hit out against DAP, which in turn opposed the implementation of hudud.

“They told me to shut up and say it is their right to hold drinking parties (pesta arak).

“But why do they instead, are make noise against my struggles to fight for hudud in Kelantan? Is that not my right as a Muslim?”

In response, Kok said it was Nasrudin’s prerogative to voice his opinions.

“He can always agree to disagree,” she said.

Earlier at a joint Press conference which Kok attended, Pas deputy president Mohamad Sabu announced that a fundraising dinner would be held to promote the opposition’s cause against the abolishment the Sedition Act.