Ex-judge, Muslim activist debate beer fest merits

A Muslim activist and a former Federal Court judge gave their respective views on the cancellation of the Better Beer Festival at a forum organised by the Bar Council last night.

Known to stand up against right-wing Muslim groups, Islamic Renaissance Front director Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, however, said that his position on the matter gravitates towards Amanah lawmaker and fellow medical doctor Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud's position.

Siti Mariah had argued that the festival would encourage the consumption of alcohol and that alcoholism is a health hazard.

A government, said Farouk, should encourage healthy living.

"When we say we should allow people to have beer-drinking festivals, where do we put the demarcation where you can have this but you can't have a gay parade.

"If we say it's a fundamental right to have beer festivals, then the gays would say we want to have our gay festival as well (then), there's going to be a problem here."

Stating that his perspective was also that of a senior physician, Farouk said there was "nothing good in getting stoned by drinking or by taking drugs".

"For medical doctors, the most important part in taking the history of a patient is this; 'do you drink, do you smoke'? Because we know it's detrimental to their health," he said.

On the other hand, retired judge Gopal Sri Ram joked that many of his Muslim, doctor friends were disappointed over the cancellation of the beer festival.

"They wanted to attend the festival. (So) from the medical and Muslim point of view, the cancellation was quite disappointing," quipped Sri Ram.

Judge: Nobody's business

On a more serious note, Sri Ram said everyone should realise that the country was secular in nature.

"The sooner we realise we are a secular country and not a Muslim country, then one faith should not impose its will upon the way others want to behave themselves.

"Otherwise, it infringes Article 3 (of the federal constitution); someone is dictating to me how I should live my life, it's nobody's business!" he exclaimed.

As such, a lawyer's point of view would state that this was an infringement of a person's right, added Sri Ram.

"Next thing they will tell you whom you can shake hands with, whom you can send Hari Raya cards to, whether u can send Deepavali cards to anybody."

The Better Beer Festival, an event to promote smaller breweries, has been taking place without much fanfare in Kuala Lumpur since 2011.

However, it came to national prominence after PAS central committee member Riduan Mohd Nor complained about it and said it would lead to reprisals from extremists.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has since refused to grant approval for this year's event.- Mkini