Don’t make beer fest a religious issue, Sandakan MP tells Amanah

Jason Santos Jason Santos Updated 7 years ago · Published on 12 Nov 2018 1:47PM · 4 Comments

Sandakan MP Stephen Wong says sensationalising last weekend's Oktoberfest event in his constituency as a religious issue is not in line with Sabahan culture. – Facebook pic, November 12, 2018.

SANDAKAN MP Stephen Wong today admitted that an Oktoberfest event held in his constituency over the weekend did not take into account religious sensitivities.

However, he said, sensationalising it as a religious issue is not in line with Sabahan culture.

Wong, who is also state DAP chairman, said Sabahans of different races and religions have no problem sitting together at places like coffee shops, and that the race of such outlets’ owners is never an issue.

“I can see how the venue might have been unsuitable for such an event (Oktoberfest). It is a rather open area, and I understand that there are some Muslim coffee shops and businesses there.

“However, if a Muslim enters a Chinese-owned coffee shop, they have the choice of not ordering any food or drink. But Sabahans are generally accommodating, and respect the practices of those of other faiths,” he told reporters at the state assembly building in Kota Kinabalu.

He was responding to the state Amanah, which had criticised the beer festival. Sabah Amanah chairman Haris Alimudin said usually, such events would be held in “more confined” areas and took note of the surrounding community’s sensitivities.

Wong said the event, held on the streets of Bandar Indah Permai, Mile 4 of the Sandakan road, was organised by a civil society group, and that he had not been consulted on the venue beforehand.

He said the local council might have overlooked the matter. – November 12, 2018.

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • KUDOS! Amanah, PAS, etc must keep hammering against crowd beer-drinking. It is simply a health & safety, etc issue. It is enough reason not to promote it in public in New Malaysia where we voted to do the correct thing. Once you start, you never know the day when you will reach out for more & get very drunk with the bad consequences which can result - quarrels, fights, rape, murder, road rage, wife, baby or girlfriend beating and abuse. Drink in private and be damned to hell, that's where you can end up. Get some regular (preferably enjoyable e.g. Dance classes at a gym) exercise so you will stick with it over the loop term, you can thereby gradually reduce your dependence on both smoking & beer. Exercising regularly will even stop you from starting to smoke or drink - from a Singapore Sports Council certified (1991/2- inaugural session) fitness enthusiast..

    Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

    • AS POSTED ABOVE, TQ!..

      Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

    • Does any of our 4 world religions promote beer?..

      Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • Well Ananah your reason is not to offend the sensitivities of the Muslims in Sandakan . I think you Ananah fellas must take it one step further . Call for a ban of all liquor tuak and lehingin the kemaatan festival . Yes the KDMR community surely understand your Ananah sensitivities.

    Posted 7 years ago by John Fam · Reply