NEGRI Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun’s resignation of the presidency of a golf club that has refused to stop serving alcohol on its premises should not be viewed as a sign of intolerance towards non-Muslims, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said.

Anwar said Muslims could not forbid non-Muslims from imbibing, likewise non-Muslims need to respect Aminuddin’s decision to step down as the president of Seremban International Golf Club (SIGC). 

Anwar said Aminuddin quit because it was against his religious beliefs to be associated with alcohol.

“If non-Muslims want to drink beer, that is their right. If they want to have a club, that’s their right. We as Muslims do not have the right to deny or prohibit them from drinking,” said Anwar.

“But for him (Aminuddin) to be chairman of the club, he did not want to be associated with that.”

Anwar was speaking at a ceramah last night at Masjid Kariah in Kampung Sendayan in Rantau. About 200 people attended the event held ahead of the Rantau by-election on April 13. 

Anwar came to the defence of the menteri besar defence against charges of intolerance over his stand against alcohol at a golf club with a multi-racial membership roll.

“Many people were angry with him, but I explained to them that Islam doesn’t prohibit non-Muslims from drinking. But it’s his right to quit. He does not want to be associated with it so don’t force him,” he said. 

Barisan Nasional candidate for Rantau, Mohamad Hasan had reminded the people that he did not have a problem with the club serving beer when he was the club chairman and the menteri besar.

Mohamad said that while he also did not condone alcohol consumption, he did not try to impose his personal views on the multi-racial public.

If he had wanted to do so, he would have made Negri Sembilan alcohol-free when he was in charge.

Anwar yesterday laughed off Mohamad’s claims.
 
“Those are his views but I must defend Aminuddin… Mat Hasan is tolerant because as he is good with PAS, selling alcohol is nothing,” Anwar said to laughter from the crowd. 

Aminuddin last week resigned the SIGC club presidency after the alcohol ban he imposed was overturned. At an extraordinary general meeting, the members unanimously voted to rescind the ban on grounds it was inconsistent with the club constitution.

The SIGC constitution also stipulates that the club president must be the menteri besar. The club deputy presidency is reserved for the state secretary. – April 3, 2019.