Prominent lawyer-activist Art Harun questions PAS after Islamist party leader says 'beer festival will threaten safety, cause free sex and rape'.
Art: Has the crime rate gone up in Germany every October?
PETALING JAYA: Activist-lawyer Azhar Harun says PAS should provide statistics and proof to back their argument that the annual craft beer festival in Malaysia would increase crime rates.
“Has there been a study by PAS or survey by PAS to show that in respect of the beer festival every October the crime rate goes up? Or has the crime rate gone up in Germany every October?” he said when contacted by FMT today.
Azhar was referring to PAS central committee member Riduan Mohd Nor reportedly calling the annual beer festival a “vice festival”.
Riduan had questioned the authorities on what guarantee they could give to members of the public who are not participating in this annual event, “to ensure their safety from crime, free sex, rape and so on”.
The PAS leader had also warned that Kuala Lumpur could one day be known as Asia’s vice centre if such events are not stopped.
“It is something that is shameful for an Islamic country like Malaysia when ‘mungkar’ (treacherous) programmes can easily gain a place in society’s heart and it is allowed to be organised without obstruction,” Riduan was quoted as saying by Malay Mail Online.
Azhar, who is popularly known as Art Harun, said PAS objects to the beer festival on a yearly basis, adding that their stance on this is not surprising.
He added that PAS should look at Palestine, a country Malaysia supports wholeheartedly, where the beer event is also celebrated.
“It is a western non-Muslim event, it started in Germany and it caught on in other countries. It happens everywhere, even Palestine.
“So if people want to hold that in Publika, why are we objecting?” he said, referring to the annual Oktoberfest celebration.
Meanwhile, Azhar said in proposing the amendments to Act 355, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang claimed it would not affect non-Muslims, but that now “they are already imposing their values despite what was said”.
“They said that when they want to amend Act355, it will not affect non-Muslims.
“Look at this, this is a non-Muslim event and they are already imposing their values and religion on non-Muslims.
“So where is PAS’ argument that hudud and the amendment of the law will not affect non-Muslims. It’s a blatant lie to me,” Azhar said.
He added that Kelantan does not celebrate the beer festival, but he claims they have the highest drug addiction and AIDS rate there.
Referring to Riduan’s warning that there could be “extremist” actions in response to the “treacherous programme”, Azhar said it did not sound like a warning but like a threat instead.
“People will be worried. It is an irony PAS has come up with this when our Prime Minister (Najib Razak) has gone to meet US President Donald Trump,” he said.
Zaid says that if PAS is unhappy with the festival they should protest against Najib and not the people.
Meanwhile, DAP’s Zaid Ibrahim said that if PAS is unhappy with the festival they should protest against Najib and not the people.
“Why protest and then make a political case out of it. You want to ban the festival go and see Najib,” Zaid told FMT.
FMT has contacted the organizers of the Better Beer Festival 2017, MyBeer Malaysia and is awaiting their response on the issue.
The Better Beer Festival will be held from Oct 6-7 in Publika.
The festival is set to showcase 250 different craft beers from 43 independent breweries from 12 countries, and also includes a variety of food and live performances. - FMT
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