MB to quit as club president after beer ban fails

SEREMBAN: Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun will resign as Seremban International Golf Club president after members voted to overturn a decision by the management to ban the sale of beer at the premises.

He is sticking to an earlier announcement to quit the post if the ban falls through.

The Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar said he would write to the management soonest on this.

Aminuddin said he only accepted the post as the golf club constitution stipulates the club president’s position is automatically given to the Mentri Besar.

The post of deputy president is reserved for the state secretary.

When met at an event in Sikamat, Aminuddin said he had no choice but to resign as provision in the club’s constitution allows the sale of beer.

The 18-hole course is owned by the state government while the clubhouse and other facilities belong to members.

On Sunday, almost 135 members who had turned up at an extraordinary general meeting voted to overturn the ban on the sale of beer implemented since last August.

The club management made the ban decision when Aminuddin was made president.

Members said the decision by the management to ban the sale of beer at the club was simply against the club constitution.

Apart from violating the club’s decades-old practice of selling and serving beer, the members claimed the decision was made against the wishes of the majority of the 1,500 members.

On Thursday, Aminuddin threatened to resign as president if members voted to overturn the decision of its management to stop the sale of beer at the premises.

Aminuddin said he could not be helming a club which sold and served beer to its members and patrons, when he was also state Islamic Affairs committee head.

“I will have no problem resigning as I do not play golf,” he had said.

Aminuddin said he also could not be president of the club if it continued selling beer as the course was located in an area where almost all the residents were Muslims.

He admitted to proposing to the management committee to stop the sale of beer, citing a mosque was situated next to the club and there were several more in the vicinity. Aminuddin said it was also inappropriate for the club to sell beer as many of its members were civil servants.