PAS Sarawak calls for end to future beer festivals

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Abdullah reads out his police report to those who accompanied him to Miri Central Police Station.

MIRI: Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) Sarawak wants the authorities to ban future beer festivals and also called on the organiser of the ongoing Neon Beer Festival 2018 here to bar Muslims from attending.

Its commissioner Jofri Jaraiee said such events are not in line with local customs and culture, and steps must be taken to ensure they are not held in the future.

“Some people will question why we are against this type of event, when it involves non-Muslims.

“But people must realise that this kind of festival can have adverse effects on the younger generation, especially those who are easily influenced by Western culture,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.

He cited cases of people getting involved or killed in drunken fights, and those who cause accidents while driving under the influence, as reasons why such events should not be held.

“This beer festival is definitely not in line with our local culture and customs, especially among Muslims.

“Although it is for non-Muslims, we need to protest against such events from being held in the future as they bring more harm than good,” he said.

The four-day Neon Beer Festival 2018 kicked off yesterday at Coco Cabana.

Meanwhile, members of the Muslim community here lodged a police report yesterday calling for the authorities to ensure Muslims do not take part in the ongoing festival.

The report was made by Abdullah Gani, an imam from a mosque in Piasau, who was accompanied by members of Malaysian Islamic Propagation and Welfare Organisation (Pekida) Miri and Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

“The authorities and relevant parties must prevent Muslims from attending the (beer) festival.

“According to Muslim beliefs, when ‘maksiat’ (breaking of a religious or moral law) occurs openly, it can bring to the occurrence of ‘bala’ (calamity) from Allah, and if not prevented, the calamities will befall upon the entire population generally,” he said.

In this regard, Abdullah hoped the festival organiser places signs to warn Muslims not to enter the premises and take part in the festival.