The 45th Penang Oktoberfest organised by the Malaysian German Society last night went on without a hitch, with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng declaring "Penang is no Taliban state".

Lim said some extremists may have succeeded in banning Oktoberfest in Selangor or Kuala Lumpur but they would never succeed in Penang.

"Penang is not keen in banning ‘this or that’ which interferes in Malaysians’ traditional freedom.

"We are no Taliban state," he added, during his speech in Penang last night.

"The fact that Oktoberfest continues, as it has been every year, will rebut the lies of those who claim that either Oktoberfest in Penang is banned or the name has changed.

"Nothing can be further from the truth," he said...