SHAH ALAM: Malaysian NGOs Coalition chairman Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos today led a demonstration at the Selangor state secretariat building’s (SUK) front gate, in protest of the Better Beer Festival 2017, by smashing crates of beer with a sledgehammer – and leaving the mess for others to clean up.
Jamal, accompanied by more than 20 supporters, began his protest by carrying armloads of crates of beer to Gate 1, saying he wanted to deliver them to the Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali's office.
However, he was stopped by security guards from entering the compound.
"Why am I not allowed to go in? I am not here to create a ruckus. I am here to send these bottles of beverages to Azmin's office. I want to tell him not to encourage immoral and unbeneficial activities.
"If they want to get drunk, do it at the SUK. Do not get drunk outside of the SUK. So if Azmin wants to drink, get drunk, or wants to die, (he can) do it in his office," he said.
"I have to praise Selangor Pas for objecting to the fest. But a DAP exco is insolent as he wants the fest to go on. That is stupid, immoral and senseless. Do not delay anymore. The fest must be cancelled," said Jamal.
Jamal’s protest then turned violent when he dropped a bottle of beer onto the pavement, which shattered and spilled its contents.
He then stacked the crates of beer at the gate, on which he had stuck Better Beer Festival logos, and proceeded to smash them repeatedly with a sledgehammer, leaving the building’s entrance littered with debris and spilled beer.
He then walked off and headed to his luxury MPV, leaving the scene without saying a word.
But SUK enforcement chief Misnun Ramli gave chase to Jamal's car, asking that Jamal clean up the mess – but he was ignored.
"It is highly inappropriate to leave just like that. The mess is in the middle of road and we have a lot of visitors coming in and out.
"This is not the right way, even if he wants to protest. There are a lot of glass shards on the road, and even his supporters ignored me when I asked them to clear it. We will lodge a police report over this," he said.
At about noon, a team of more than 5 policemen showed up to investigate before SUK cleaning contractors were called in to clear the mess.
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall had cancelled the Better Beer Festival scheduled to take place for two-days from tomorrow at the Publika Shopping Gallery following security concerns.
The two-day German Food and Beverage Festival which also serves alcoholic beverages was set to take place on Oct 12 at Centro Mall in Klang was not approved by the police due to safety reasons.