AP MP tells Oktoberfest party-poopers

Under fire from Muslim groups for posting pictures of her recent Oktoberfest outing, DAP MP Teresa Kok defended today her right to a personal life and enjoyment.

The DAP national vice-chairman hit out at critics who claimed she was “showing off” her drinking habits with the intent to offend Muslims who have been demanding a stop to the beer festival, saying she has “civil liberty rights” to attend the event as a non-Muslim.

“There was nothing wrong. I didn’t insult anybody. It’s my programme, my activity, I enjoy it. That’s it,” Kok told reporters here.

Kok and other PR lawmakers have come under fire from Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia and certain Muslim groups for allegedly promoting drinking after pictures of their merry-making at Oktoberfest in the car park of a shopping mall last Friday night circulated on the internet.

“It’s my right, it’s my space. They’re intervening into my private space and trying to incite others, and to spin the event,” Kok said.

Utusan had claimed that PKR and DAP lawmakers were “disrespectful” of their comrades in PAS by joining in the festivities, rapping PKR Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen for posting a photo on Facebook of himself attending the event.

It also singled out PKR’s Subang MP R. Sivarasa, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, Bukit Gasing assemblyman R. Rajiv and Damansara Utama assemblyman Yeo Bee Yin for joining in the party.

On Wednesday, several PAS lawmakers demanded that the Petaling Jaya City Council take action against the companies involved for advertising the beer festival without permits and for seeking to hold it in an open venue.

Muslim groups including controversial Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia have also taken aim at Oktoberfest this month, claiming the event will tarnish Malaysia’s image as an “Islamic country” and “bring ruin” to the nation.

Although the event is promoted to non-Muslims, several Muslim groups have urged their supporters to rally against the event and venues that serve alcohol as part of the festival.

Oktoberfest is held annually in Malaysia with the two biggest breweries GAB and Carlsberg holding several drinking parties in major towns nationwide.

Oktoberfest was originally celebrated in Munich, Germany to accompany horse races, but has grown into “the world’s largest funfair”, attracting millions of visitors every year.

-malaymail