Klang council expected to spike German F&B fest amid security fears

In light of the police's objections to the "German F&B Festival" event in Klang, the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) is expected not to greenlight the event after reaching a tentative consensus on the matter.

There are concerns that the council would not be able to keep the situation under control if something went awry at the event in the absence of police, a number of MPK councillors told Malaysiakini when contacted. 

Malaysiakini understands that MPK president Mohamad Yasid Bidin called for an informal meeting with ten non-Muslim councillors at his office around 8.30am today.

The meeting was called after the MPK received a letter of objection from the police yesterday.

In the 45-minute meeting, the councillors agreed that they would follow the police's advice and would not insist on the event being held. 

A councillor who wished to remain anonymous told Malaysiakini that Mohamad Yasid also concurred with their views, although the final decision will only be made after a formal meeting is held.

According to normal procedure, if any event failed to provide a supportive letter from the police, the MPK would not approve the event, he pointed out. 

"The police will not be responsible for the event. If someone starts a provocation (we cannot handle it).

"We will need to follow the procedure…We will not be able to approve without the document (police supportive letter). Of course, the power lies with the president," he said.

The MPK president is appointed by the Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government, whereas the councillors are appointed by the Selangor government.

Another councillor concurred that the MPK would have difficulties with security in the absence of police support. 

"(MPK) will need to follow the procedure. We need police on security, as we do not have the power or capability (to deal with this matter)," the councillor told Malaysiakini, adding that the final result will depend on the negotiations between various parties and the MPK president. 

The North Klang district police wrote to the MPK on Oct 2, stated three reasons as the grounds for its objection to the event: security threat or terrorism; public sensitivity; and objections from society and NGOs. 

However, Selangor senior exco member Teng Chang Khim today said that if he were the president of MPK, he would let the event proceed as planned because the council was not legally obliged to seek a green light from the police.

The German F&B Festival is slated to be held on Oct 12 and 13 at Centro Mall.- Mkini