When did Oktoberfest cause problems, Guan Eng asks minister
A Bavarian brass band performance at Oktoberfest, held in Penang in 2019. (Malaysian-German Society pic)
PETALING JAYA: DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng has questioned a minister’s rationale for urging that the German cultural festival Oktoberfest not be held openly for the public.
“I cannot see how Oktoberfest has led to public disorder,” he said, in response to a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat by religious affairs minister Idris Ahmad.
The minister had said that “alcohol parties” open to the public would affect the “social harmony, order and security of society”.
But Lim said there had been no Oktoberfest-related incidents in the past. “Idris should answer me based on facts, can he show us examples where the German culture festival has been a problem?”
Oktoberfest, organised by the Malaysian-German Society, has been held in Penang for four decades. It usually features a Bavarian band performance, German food and a variety of German and international beers.
Lim had also questioned Idris’ stance on the Japanese summer festival of Bon Odori, when he had previously advised Muslims against attending.
The celebration, organised by the Japanese community in Malaysia, was held in Shah Alam on July 16, and will be held in Penang tomorrow.
PETALING JAYA: DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng has questioned a minister’s rationale for urging that the German cultural festival Oktoberfest not be held openly for the public.
“I cannot see how Oktoberfest has led to public disorder,” he said, in response to a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat by religious affairs minister Idris Ahmad.
The minister had said that “alcohol parties” open to the public would affect the “social harmony, order and security of society”.
But Lim said there had been no Oktoberfest-related incidents in the past. “Idris should answer me based on facts, can he show us examples where the German culture festival has been a problem?”
Oktoberfest, organised by the Malaysian-German Society, has been held in Penang for four decades. It usually features a Bavarian band performance, German food and a variety of German and international beers.
Lim had also questioned Idris’ stance on the Japanese summer festival of Bon Odori, when he had previously advised Muslims against attending.
The celebration, organised by the Japanese community in Malaysia, was held in Shah Alam on July 16, and will be held in Penang tomorrow.
Lim Guan Eng should understand and accept the concept of prevention of potential threats to social stability.
ReplyDeleteIt suffices for some people to feel uneasy about the proposed festival.
No actual cases of problems are necessary for preventive actions to be taken.
This sounds like ketuanan talk. If we follow this logic, so long as there are people who feel uneasy, the event should be discouraged or cancelled.
DeleteSo, if the nons burn "hell money" and ketuanan neighbours feel uneasy, this should stop? What about eating pork?
If this is the way forward, in time, the nons will have to submit to the ketuanans to "respect" their race and religion.
Honestly, I am quite tired to read of the ketuanans demanding their race and religion be respected while they go on disrespecting other races and religions.
Hypocrital of the ketuanans, isn't it?
Hahahaha...I'm being deliberately cynical about the issue.
DeleteThe fact is , the majority of Malaysians have bought into and long ago accepted the concept of preventive measures against POTENTIAL , even theoretical threats to social stability, wrong-headed that it may be.
For Isle people, do not go lah.
ReplyDelete