Those who were disappointed to find that the Better Beer Festival 2017 was not given approval by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) may be shocked, dare we say shocked, to find out that it was apparently due to a security threat from the Islamic State. At least, according to ruling coalition party MCA spokesman Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker.
Yes readers, in a city where we’re surrounded by dozens of potentially threatening security situations, the only one we don’t have a grip on is a small, craft-beer festival. Right.
Ti said that the government could not guarantee the safety of the festival’s patrons, who he referred to as “sitting ducks for any security threats.”
This contradicts earlier messaging from DBKL, who said that the event did not have approval due to “political sensitivity.” This was going to be the third Better Beer Festival; however, the event did fall during what is a run-up to election time.
MCA’s Ti says that while he won’t accept DBKL’s unconstitutional reasoning extending to non-Malays, he’s totally on board with this potential IS threat. He cited the arrest of a suspected IS sympathizer in Perak, as well as the ill-conceived Movida grenade attack of 2016.
Beating the drum of discord is opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, who told Free Malaysia Today that having such “compromised and brittle” security that a small event had to get banned was worrying.
Can’t wait for the great craft beer debates of 2017 to take full swing.
