.JPG "Mahathir speaks during a town hall session at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya on September 6, 2017. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Miera Zulyana")
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has expressed support for beer festivals among non-Muslims, despite his party's Youth wing starting a petition to have these eliminated.
The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman wrote on his blog that there was no issue with non-Muslims consuming alcohol in Malaysia.
“To me, if non-Muslims, who are not forbidden from drinking alcohol or beer, want to drink until they pass out, that's their problem.
“The important thing is that they do not cause trouble to others or drive under the influence,” he wrote.
He also noted that Oktoberfest was a German festival and part of the tradition of the country that he pointed out has taken in over a million Muslim refugees from Syria.
The former prime minister then said it was better to mind one's own business, adding that drug addiction was a worse vice.
“Just make sure we (Muslims) do not drink beer or consume drugs. This is better than smashing beer bottles,” he added, in veiled reference to Sungai Besar Umno division chief Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos who was arrested for a bottle-smashing protest.
PPBM Armada, the party's youth wing, collected over 10,000 signatures in a petition to “Destroy Beer Festival Culture in Malaysia”.
