Golf club debacle: Senseless to impose your values on others, Negri MB told

SEREMBAN: Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun should also resign as Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar following his decision to step down as Seremban International Golf Club (SIGC) president after club members voted to overturn the management's decision to stop the sale of alcohol, says his predecessor.

Former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Aminuddin's reason to step down as club president because he was in charge of the state Islamic affairs portfolio did not make sense.

"You must not forget that the members of the club, which was set up in the 1950s, are multiracial.

"The last thing you should do is impose your values on others. Even the Al Quran says so," he said, adding that Aminuddin should remember that he was MB for all races and not just the Muslims in the state.
Mohamad, who was SIGC president during his time as MB from 2004 to 2018, said if he had his way, he would have banned the sale of liquor in the state.
"I do not drink alcohol, and I would have imposed a state-wide ban if I could.

"But I need to be sensitive to the needs and rights of non-Muslims who live here," he said, adding that Aminuddin should have known that SIGC was a private club where  beer was only sold and served in a designated area.

He said Aminuddin was merely seeking cheap publicity by resigning as SIGC president.

Last week, Aminuddin had threatened to reign after SIGC members requisitioned an extraordinary meeting to overturn the ban on the sale of beer at the club imposed last August.

They claimed the decision which was also against the club's constitution and was made without the consent of the members.

The majority of members at the EGM on Sunday then voted against the ban, and

Aminuddin resigned the following day.

Among other things, Aminuddin said he could not be president of the club if it continued selling beer because the course was located in an area where almost all the residents were Muslims.

In response, Mohamad said based on Aminuddin's reasoning, the MB should also shut down several establishments which sold and served beer located just metres away from his official residence.

On another matter, he appealed to punters not to take bets on the outcome of the Rantau by-election to be held on April 13.

"I am told that punters are taking bets that I will win with a 3,000-vote majority.

"Please do not do so as some voters who place their bets would decide against voting for me," Mohamad added.- Star