BANNING an event over “political sensitivities” can set a dangerous precedence, the Penang government said today, following the cancellation of the Better Beer Festival by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) yesterday.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said if political sensitivities could be used as a reason, it raised concerns that other events and even businesses could face problems over the same “excuse”.

He said many non-Muslims would fear that this was just the beginning, and that their way of life would be restricted just because of statements made by some politicians.

“What if this is expanded to other events in the future, or even pubs, bars and other establishments that sell beer or liquor?

“We have ‘phor thor’ events where beer is served. Are such events also to be banned? Will they say no pork can be served, too?” he said, referring to Taoist Hungry Ghost festival dinners.

“Using this excuse is very dangerous. It provides an avenue for the gross abuse of power and arbitrary decision-making that is not subject to the rule of law. It is a gross transgression of our fundamental principle of respect for the rule of law.”

Speaking as a government, Lim said he had never heard of “political sensitivities” as a valid reason to bar events from being held.

In a statement yesterday, DBKL corporate planning director Khalid Zakaria said the application for the venue, time and date by Better Beer Festival organiser Mybeer (M) Sdn Bhd was not approved.

The festival, which had been organised successfully for five years in a row, was supposed to have taken place early next month at the Publika Shopping Gallery in Kuala Lumpur, featuring 250 craft beers from 43 breweries worldwide.

Last week, PAS politicians had objected to the event, claiming it would encourage immorality and turn Kuala Lumpur into Asia’s vice capital.

Lim said he could accept reasons like ensuring safety and security, preventing nuisance, as well as technical issues, for the banning of an event, but not political sensitivities, which were very subjective.

“When I was detained under ISA (Internal Security Act), they never said it was due to political sensitivities. I would have challenged them in court if they did. They said I jeopardised national security.

“There is nothing in the law that says you can reject an application because of political sensitivities. You cannot function as a government this way,” he said, urging DBKL, the Barisan Nasional federal government and the Federal Territories Ministry to explain what was going on.

He said it was hard for people to accept the cancellation of the festival, which had been held annually since 2012 without any untoward incidents, without a full explanation from the authorities.

“This episode would also cause non-Muslims to worry that PAS wants to impose its values on them.”

The DAP secretary-general said the festival organiser had grounds to legally challenge DBKL’s decision, although the company might not want to go to such lengths.

Present at the press conference held in Lim’s office was Penang Chinese Town Hall chairman Khor Teng How, who said the country should be managed according to the provisions stated in the Federal Constitution.

He said the people should have the freedom to organise and attend events, adding that banning the beer festival was not in the spirit of a multiracial and multicultural Malaysia that celebrated diversity. – September 19, 2017.