PAS SHOULD ‘MIND ITS OWN BUSINESS’
DAP’s Teng Chang Khim says Islamic party’s leaders are ‘trying to be heroes’
PAS leaders must learn to mind their own business and refrain from meddling in Selangor affairs, state executive council member Datuk Teng Chang Khim said yesterday, adding that Pas leaders who objected to the “Better Beer Festival 2017” and an Oktoberfest event, the “Centro Mall German F&B Festival”, were “trying to be heroes”.
“Pas leaders, especially those from Kelantan, a state with higher number of HIV/AIDS cases and social issues than Selangor, should look into their issues instead of poking their noses into our state’s matters.
“Do not politicise this issue and go around saying such festivals touch on the Muslim community’s sensitivities. How about the non-Muslims? We should respect them as well.
“Besides, Muslims are clearly prohibited from participating, so why is Pas jumping up and down like a drunk person?
“Instead of objecting, why aren’t they holding a campaign against smokers when there is a fatwa against smoking?” he said here yesterday.
It was reported that Selangor Pas Youth chief Syarhan Humaizi Abdul Halim had objected to the Centro Mall German F&B Festival, saying the organisers should take into consideration the sensitivities of those who were uncomfortable with the event.
Syarhan had also cited safety and disruption to public order as among the reasons to cancel the event.
However, Teng, who is also Selangor DAP vice-chairman, said if police were able to offer security to thousands of Sea Games 2017 participants and audiences last month, a smaller event like the beer festival should not be a problem.
“If they say such crowd-drawing events pose a threat, many other things, like Parliament sessions, would also have to be cancelled for security reasons. That is not the way to take care of public order and security.”
Besides that, he said, the event organisers had obtained approval from the Klang Municipal Council and Klang Utara police.
Teng also pointed out that approval for such events fell under the local authorities and not the state government, making it pointless to blame the state.
“We practice democracy. We (the state government) have no qualms as long as an event adheres to laws and regulations.”
The issue came on the heels of the move by Kuala Lumpur City Hall to cancel the Better Beer Festival at Publika Shopping Gallery on Oct 6 and 7.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun had, on Sept 21, revealed that police had received information on militants planning to attack the event.