GOMBAK, Oct 14 — PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang waded into the Oktoberfest controversy last night, saying there is a need for strict control on events that promoted “immoral activities” regardless of religion.

Hadi said that while Muslims should be tolerant and mindful of the rights of non-Muslims and not encroach on what is permitted by other religions, it was doubtful that these faiths encouraged “sinful” acts.

“Ask a priest (whether it is encouraged), that is why there is a need for (activities such as Oktoberfest) to be filtered.

“Then in matters that is permitted in his religion, controls need to be made so that it does not encroach on the sensitivities of Muslims and other religions who do not agree with it,” Hadi said during a question and answer session with PAS members and supporters here in Gombak here last night.

The PAS president was responding to a question on the Oktoberfest beer festival that some Muslim groups — including PAS — earlier sought to have cancelled despite being aimed strictly at followers of other religions.

Among others, the organisers of Oktoberfest-themed events were accused of being insensitive to Muslims by putting up billboards advertising the festival in Muslim-majority Shah Alam.

Muslims groups also said the festival must not be allowed as beer was the “mother of all vices”.

“We cannot disturb what is permitted in their religion ... but at the same time we don’t know whether fooling around like this is part of their religion.

“I feel that all religions would not agree to it,” the PAS chief said, referring to annual beer festival that had hitherto been held for years here without incident.

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

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

It 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.