Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali said the state respects the rights of other races and religions to participate in beer festivals but such events must comply with local council regulations.

"The state government's position is that as a responsible government, not only do we need to respect the rights of other races and religions but we must also guarantee and protect their rights - that is the state's policy.

"But with any events, the organisers must comply with the regulations set out by the state government or local council," he told journalists during the launch of the Selangor Biobay in Pulau Indah today.

Azmin was asked to respond to the possibility of the Better Beer Festival 2017 moving to Selangor after it was denied approval by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

A group of NGOs had pre-empted the possible move by submitting a memorandum to the Selangor palace on Friday, urging the state's monarch to intervene if the Better Beer Festival 2017 were to be organised in the state.

Asked whether any application to hold the event was made at the state level, Azmin said he was unsure of this.

“I’m not sure if (the organiser applied with) the local authorities (but) it didn’t reach the state level,” he said.

Previously, DBKL had rejected the request to hold the Better Beer Festival at Publika Mall on Oct 6, citing political sensitivities.

The event had been held in previous years but faced problems this year after PAS complained about it.

MCA president Liow Tiong Lai, who raised the matter during the cabinet meeting, clarified that the cancellation of the event was due to security concerns.

Inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun later claimed militants could potentially target the event.

However, the Malay Mail Online quoted Bukit Aman counterterrorism division senior principal assistant director Ayub Khan Mydin Pitchay as saying that he had "no idea" about the potential security threat against the event.

The report was later retracted on grounds that his comments were not for publication.