Siti Kasim blasts Syed Saddiq over Oktoberfest petition
(The Star) – Activist Siti Kasim has blasted Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Pribumi) and its youth chief Syed Saddiq over an online petition by the party’s Selangor youth wing objecting to Oktoberfest in Malaysia.
“It’s all about politics. When are the politicians going to start thinking as Malaysians,” the lawyer said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
As of Wednesday evening, the petition has attracted 34,500 signatures, just 5,000 signatures short of the 35,000 signatures targeted by Armada.
Selangor Armada started the online petition last Friday to “reject the culture of holding liquor festivals in public spaces”, saying that it could even lead to “gay festivals” being organised in the future.
It said that Oktoberfest was not part of Malaysian culture as it was celebrated in Germany to commemorate the royal marriage between Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese in October 1810.
“The question is, is German culture so big in Malaysia that there are some Malaysians who are dying to remember the royal marriage by organising a liquor festival,” read the petition.
It added that Oktoberfest had nothing to do with any race and religion in Malaysia, and as such, there was no reason to celebrate it.
“Muslims no matter their political stand should be united and steadfast on the issue. Harmony and unity between races can be built without liquor festivals,” read the petition.
It added that while those who did not want to be involved with such festivals could stay away from them, that it could be the start for the organisation of “gay festivals” and allowing gay marriages.