Defending Lim Guan Eng’s stand or compromise and quit organising Oktoberfest? Johor DAP Excos please express your stand!

I urge Johor DAP Executive Councillors (excos) to express their stand, whether to defend their party Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng’s stand ie ‘‘blocking Oktoberfest=Blocking non-Muslims rights’’, or compromise with state Menteri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian’s decision to not allow Oktoberfest be held in Johor?  

Earlier Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian has clearly stated that the state government will not issue any permit to any organiser to hold Oktoberfest.

The reason for Johor Menteri Besar to oppose the holding of Oktoberfest festivities is simply untenable. His remarks that "The festival is not part of the Malaysian culture, no matter if you are a Muslim or not" only highlights his ignorance. It also shows that the Johor state government does not respect non-Muslim rights with increasingly extreme governing style.

In fact, the state government’s approval or non-approval of the Oktoberfest has nothing to do with advocating the culture of drinking. Instead, it is about whether the state government respects our country’s multi-religious culture and non-Muslim freedoms. Our country is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious, as long as activities do not violates the law, all ethnic groups have the right to choose their way of living with freedom of movement.  Both Muslim and non-Muslims deserve to be respected.

I recall DAP Secretary-General and former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng had once lambasted the former Barisan government for not approving Oktoberfest to be held in Kuala Lumpur, claiming that such move was a violation of non-Muslims rights. He even said the reason used by the then government to ban Oktoberfest as “illogical”, and questioned whether drinking and consuming pork illegal.

Now that Pakatan helms the federal government administration, Johor Menteri Besar has openly said that Oktoberfest will be banned, what is the stand of Johor DAP Executive Councillors then? Will they defend their party Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng’s stand, or compromise with Johor Menteri Besar’s decision to not allow Oktoberfest be held?

Therefore, I urge Tan Hong Pin, Liow Cai Tung, Sheikh Omar and  Ramakrishnan to declare their stand immediately. Such a move will determine whether the Johor state government will become a ‘‘Taliban state’’ as claimed by Lim Guan Eng, and whether it will respect non-Muslims rights and whether it is heading a path of moderation or extremism.

DAP must not remain in silence!

Ling Tian Soon
MCA Johor State Youth Chairman

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