CITY Hall’s refusal to allow the Better Beer Festival to proceed in Kuala Lumpur is causing ripples of unease in the food and beverage industry and the non-Muslim communities.

The lack of an explanation for the decision beyond “political sensitivities” does not help matters.

Pressed for a comment by the media, mayor Mhd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz had said: “…no, no comment. Just say it’s a sensitive issue.”

With the general election expected to be called anytime in the next 11 months, many see the city authority’s stance to be a political move. Some feel they have been made the scapegoat in the tussle.

“It is not a good sign, and no doubt there is worry among people in the beer industry,” said a Damansara pub owner Kennhyn Ang.

“There is concern whether in future, other large events with beer as a feature will be restricted,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Bad for business

Angel Ng, who works in food and beverage, said the festival ban was disturbing and she also felt “uncomfortable” that such episodes happen “once in four years”.

“Perhaps the government needs to flex some muscle. Previous festivals since 2012 had been allowed to proceed without trouble.

“It’s sad. I feel sorry for the organiser. It is not easy putting together a festival,” she said.

Ng said the move was bad for business.

Those who were planning events that featured alcoholic beverages were now worried they could also face problems, she said.

“We are planning a cocktail festival early next year. We don’t know how this issue with the Better Beer Festival will affect us.

“Maybe we will have to postpone it until after the general election. That will cost us.”

Ng said the present “climate” would make some foreign companies collaborating with local ones to organing events reconsider their partnerships.

“They may think again about holding events in Malaysia and pull out,” she said.

‘Political sensitivities’

Yesterday, the organiser announced that the October 6 and 7 festival in Kuala Lumpur had been cancelled in view of the political sensitivities surrounding the event.

City Hall in a statement said it had rejected organiser Mybeer (M) Sdn Bhd’s application submitted on August 28. Its corporate planning director, Khalid Zakaria, said the application for the venue, time and date requested by the organiser was not approved.

The Better Beer Festival, which has been held successfully for five years in a row, was to have taken place at the Publika Shopping Gallery in Kuala Lumpur, featuring 250 craft beers from 43 breweries worldwide.

Last week, PAS politicians objected to the event, claiming it would encourage immorality and turn the city into the vice capital of Asia.

Since yesterday, the cancellation of the event has been hotly discussed on Facebook and Twitter. Most Muslim social media users said they were glad it had been cancelled while some felt the move was unfair to non-Muslims. 

Hassan Aswj said he supported the ban as “there should not be any grand, open beer festival in this country.”

“The reason is beer is not good, not only for Muslims (severely prohibited), but non-Muslims as well. And I don’t think any religion supports drinking (alcohol),” he wrote.

Abu Iyaad wrote on Facebook: “We don’t need this at the time we have so much social illness within our society. You do not need to be religious to know so. Alhamdulillah, it is cancelled. I am happy.”

Azie Shaklee on Twitter said she strongly opposed the event in the name of Allah while another Twitter user muhdhaziq gave the event the middle finger.

Non-Muslim rights

Natul Ismail felt differently, tweeting “Why must Muslims get all excited about banning the beer festival? Let the non-Muslims enjoy. The Muslims need not concern themselves.”

Nadia Carey said alcohol was available everywhere and nobody was forced to consume it.

“We are multiracial.. depends on the individu (sic) .. why making (an) issue (of it) here? No one (is) forcing Muslims to drink anyway…” she said.

AbangDeddy on Twitter posted: “I object to the objection against Better Beer Festival. Just make it clear HARAM UNTUK ORANG ISLAM cukup la (it is enough that it is illegal for Muslims). Let the non-Muslims have at it!”

Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan, and PAS were also introduced into the mix.

One Adrian Lim read politics in in the ban, making reference to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s private member’s bill to enhance the punitive powers of the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act, or RUU355.

“Like RUU355, BN gamed both PAS and Pakatan again. BN dangled a carrot. PAS created public pressure. Pakatan retorted against PAS.

“Fight, fight, fight. One wants to show how Islamic they are, the other wants to show how secular they are.

“In the end, DBKL (BN) makes the decision. PAS rejoices and feel it has won against Pakatan. Pakatan licks the wounds and hates Pas. DBKL (BN) just laughs and watches PAS and Pakatan fighting each other,” he commented.

James Chong questioned the veracity of claims by politicians that PAS’  proposed expansion of Islamic laws would not affect non-Muslims.

“...The Arabisation of Malaysia will not affect non-Muslims? The gradual Islamification of Malaysia will not affect non-Muslims?

“Would all the statements by the religious, Umno and PAS leaders, and all their ‘pious’ supporters, and their ‘promises’ be considered false now? I’m glad this happened in a way. It’s now proven beyond a doubt that what they claimed and said are untrue.

“Well done PAS and DBKL. You have just drove a deeper wedge into Malaysia, and Malaysians. I don’t think we can ever be a better nation and move ahead instead of backwards, unless race-based and religion-based politics are no more….” he said.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok from DAP said the ban was “ridiculous” when it was only meant for non-Muslims and tourists.

“Is DBKL going to ban the sales of beer or liquor in Kuala Lumpur in future? I thought the Prime Minister Najib has just said that the rights of the non-Malays and Chinese will be safeguarded in the Malaysian Patriotic Convention organised by MCA recently?” she posted on her Facebook account.

‘Extremism has won’

Prominent lawyer Syahredzan Johan tweeted: “Secular institutions such as DBKL now pander to religious objections. What more if these become law.

“In FT, it is already an offence for a Muslim to drink alcohol publicly. so even if you want to ensure Muslims don’t partake, law is there.

“So if any Muslims attend these beer fests and drink, the Jabatan Agama (religious department) can take action anyway. It’s in the law.”

Well-known lawyer, the outspoken Siti Kasim remarked that extremism had won.

“Nope, nothing will affect the non-Muslims… So, they say…..Extremism wins. NOTE: This will be good for a strategic litigation case,” she wrote on Facebook.

In a text message to The Malaysian Insight, Siti said although it was hard to say unless the reasons for the permit rejection was known, fundamental liberties in Malaysia were set out in Articles 5 to 13 in the Constitution.

“Those who have locus (standi) should try this,” she said.

In a press conference this afternoon, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng also said the festival organiser had grounds to sue because the law did not allow for such applications to be rejected over political sensitivities. – September 19, 2017.