Organisers of the beer festival Oktoberfest are yet to obtain permission from the police and the Customs Department to hold the event.

Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali said that such events needed to follow existing guidelines.

‘We have not received approvals from several agencies. Such events need to follow existing guidelines. The police and Customs Department will have to give the green light,” Azmin said after chairing the Selangor Economic Action Council (MTES) meeting today.

He said organisers of the festival would then have to comply with the guidelines issued by the local authorities.

“The local authorities and the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) will then consider the application,” he said.

Azmin ( left ) earlier appeared evasive when questioned on the issue by reporters. He finally gave a definite answer when repeatedly pressed by the press.

Asked whether the Oktoberfest organisers had made an application to hold the event or otherwise, he said “You have to ask the organisers. I’m not the organiser”.

As for the urging by PAS that  the event be cancelled, Azmin said it was simply the party’s view. “The state government comprises all parties (PKR, DAP and PAS),” he said.

On the Oktoberfest advertisement billboard, which can be seen in Shah Alam, he reiterated that the billboard did not have the approval of the Shah Alam City Council.

“We have taken action against the billboard owner and we have suspended his permit for three months.”

'Conditions existed for years'

Oktoberfest, sponsored by beer maker Carlsberg, has courted controversy following opposition from PAS and Umno leaders.

It kicked off in Subang, Selangor, on Sept 24, with the grand finale slated to be held at the parking lot of the One Utama shopping mall in Petaling Jaya this weekend.

Meanwhile, Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah denied claims that the state government was imposing additional conditions on the organisers of Oktoberfest.

“The local authorities are the ones who issue the permit for events.

“Organisers of Oktoberfest must apply for a temporary entertainment permit. This is a normal procedure,” he said.

"Requirements such as the permission of the police and customs are requirements that have been used years and years ago, and not some additional condition that has just been imposed this year," he added.

Yong pointed out that the festival’s organisers had fulfilled the conditions in previous years.

“As such, if the organisers fulfill the same conditions this year, there is no reason for the permit not to be issued to them,” he said.