PENANG and Sarawak have no problems allowing Oktoberfest festivals to continue despite the controversy similar events have caused in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, The Star reported.

Penang Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the annual event on October 13 and 14 would be allowed as long as the organiser followed the local council’s rules.

It will be organised by the Malaysian-German Society at its premises in Jalan Air Itam and is to be launched by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

In Sarawak, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the state government supported Oktoberfest because it was a cultural festival that would help tourism.

“Oktoberfest is similar to the Gawai Dayak celebration, which features plenty of food and drinks,” he was quoted as saying.

“Over here in Sarawak, it has always been promoted as Oktoberfest and not a beer festival,” Karim said, adding that people should “know their limits” when drinking.

Islamic party PAS had objected to a planned Oktoberfest event at the 1Utama Shopping Complex in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, after opposing the Better Beer Festival originally planned on October 6 and 7 at the Publika Shopping Gallery in Kuala Lumpur. 

The event was cancelled by Kuala Lumpur City Hall and police later revealed that there was the possibility of a militant strike on the event. – September 30, 2017.