KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 1): DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang has taken on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, and questioned why his government is more concerned about Oktoberfest than corruption.

In a statement on Monday (Aug 1), the Member of Parliament for Iskandar Puteri said the government had violated the nation-building principles and policies of the nation’s founding fathers enunciated in the Constitution and Rukun Negara by claiming that it is now opposed to Oktoberfest.

“This is not the policy of the government for 65 years.

“When did the Cabinet take a position that the government is opposed to the Oktoberfest?” Kit Siang asked.

He said last month, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Idris Ahmad told Parliament: “Although non-Muslims are not prohibited from drinking alcohol, the government is of the opinion that allowing this festival to happen and making it open to the public should not happen as it will cause social problems, as alcohol is seen to affect the harmony, order and safety of the community.”

The DAP elder said the government owes it to the people to cite when the Cabinet took the decision of officially opposing the Oktoberfest.

“Even in Palestine, Oktoberfest is celebrated.

“Can the prime minister explain why his government is more concerned about Oktoberfest than corruption?” Kit Siang queried.