Group protests against beer fest and gay party

SHAH ALAM: A group representing 25 NGOs in Selangor staged a protest against a beer festival and a gay-themed party at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque here.

Its spokesman Nazilah Idris said they were worried that organisers of the craft beer event would apply for it to take place in Selangor after their bid failed in Kuala Lumpur.

“Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country and such events are insensitive and tarnishing the image of Islam. We don’t want the organiser or any similar festivals to come to Selangor,” she said yesterday.

Nazilah said they also submitted a memorandum to the Selangor palace not to allow such festivals to be held in the state.

“We have requested Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to intervene,” she said.

Initially, the Better Beer Festival 2017 was to be held on Oct 6 and 7 at Publika Shopping Gallery, Kuala Lumpur. But Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) rejected the application, citing security concerns. It is learnt that the organiser, MyBeer Sdn Bhd, will not be applying to DBKL to reconsider the ban.

It was also reported that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Government would not allow a gay-themed party, said to be planned in Kuala Lumpur, to take place.