YOURSAY | ‘Does the IGP mean to say, there is no security threat in Johor.’
IGP: Power over F&B festival lies with local authorities, not cops
6th Generation Immigrant: It started with an insignificant PAS member objecting to the Better Beer Festival 2017. Kuala Lumpur City Hall suddenly joined in the chorus, not allowing the permit - open-air drinking is not suitable, apparently.
Then Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi supported the ban. MCA leaders protested the ban, only to retract shortly, after being apparently briefed on the “security threat" - specifically against beer drinkers.
We must assume both Zahid and the inspector-general of police (IGP) provided the threat assessments to the cabinet.
Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor then said beer festivals are not allowed in open spaces, but are "permissible" in enclosed areas.
Now Zahid says it was not he who banned the festival. The IGP says they do not ban, but only provide advisories, and that only City Hall can decide on the ban. City Hall now says they banned the festival because the police advised them to.
Round and round the mulberry bush they go, with no actual ownership but all reactionary responses to that lone wolf call from PAS - all acting like stupid sheep.
Thana55: Now, now, the reason for banning the German F&B event has taken a long and meandering road, and all are passing the buck. It all falls back to the total lack of leadership. My view is the beer fest should be allowed to proceed.
The organisers just need to ensure adequate security and no disturbance to neighbouring spaces.
The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) must put undercover cops to nab any troublemakers... and chances are such people would be from our very own political parties.
Discovery: From the DPM down to the IGP to the Datuk Bandar, we have a bunch of good-for-nothing politicians and civil servants.
Imagine, these bunch of leaders cannot even handle a simple event like the Oktoberfest, how can they be trusted to handle matters of greater concern to the nation?
How could they be so intimidated by a bunch of Islamists? Where are they to hide their face?
Amah: Does the IGP mean to say, there is no security threat in Johor, since it's okay to hold the Oktoberfest there?
Ace: If you cannot even provide security and ensure safety for a beer festival or a German Food & Drink event, how are you to provide security and ensure safety for an entire country?
Anonymous #40538199: First, maintaining law and order including neutralising extremist threats to the citizens carrying out their legitimate social-economic activities is the job of the law enforcement agencies, and these agencies had done it well to ensure that SEA Games was held two months ago without any untoward incidents.
Secondly, if now PAS complains about legitimate events which had been regularly held without incident, and BN follows up with support for a ban, then what is the difference between the two parties?
If PAS has information on extremist threats, they should work with or assist the law enforcement agencies to neutralise such threats without delay.
Caripasal: There is always 'a threat' when the opposition or non-Muslims try to organise an event, perhaps because it is to the dislike of BN or Islamic extremists. Police always threaten the organiser to take the responsibility should a mishap takes place.
Is it not the duty of the police to make sure the country is safe? Is it dangerous to hold a social event like the Oktoberfest in our country now?
Is it not 'more dangerous' to organise the Ramadan bazaar as the heavy traffic poses a significant danger to road users and pedestrians alike (to which the non-Muslims have never complained)?
Why is it always safe when BN or their groups organise an event, but not the opposition or the non-Muslims?
Pencuri: PDRM and DPM are playing tai chi and it seems that both are playing politics. The beer festival was celebrated for so many years and so far, no untoward incidents have taken place.
Just because PAS objected to the celebration does not at all constitute a threat, but mere intimidation with a political motive of using religion to advance their political cause.
In fact, the police should go down hard against the extremist threat by PAS.
Ericlcc: That is the problem when you have one oversized and unproductive civil service. Nobody seems to know what they can or cannot do. Everyone plays safe.
When in doubt, just pass it to the nearest related agency to deal with it.
Bright Light: Even before the festival starts, it looks like all those approving bodies and self-glorifying politicians are already drunk, talking but not making sense.
Newday: Oh dear, we welcome this 'clarification' by the newly-minted IGP. It just adds to the confusion of the other clarifications around the beer events.
Why can't these officials just be straight up and say: ‘We won't allow this event because as fundamentalist extremists, we don't want it’?
Instead, you waffle on vaguely and talk all around the sensitive subject matter of kowtowing to the fundamentalists.
We live in a moderate nation according to PM Najib Razak, but can someone provide proof that we actually do?
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