KUALA LUMPUR: Umno did not sanction yesterday’s beer-smashing incident involving its Sungai Besar division chief Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos.
Acting Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Jamal had acted on the behalf of the Malaysian NGOs Coalition, and not the party.
“We do not sanction any of his actions. But, he is also the head of his NGO, so he may be acting on behalf of them, not Umno,” said Zahid.
The deputy prime minister said this after opening the 10th Asean Ministers’ Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication here, this morning.
“He is one of 191 Umno division chiefs but the other 190 don’t go around smashing anything,” Zahid added.
Yesterday, Jamal led a demonstration at the Selangor state secretariat building’s (SUK) front gate in Shah Alam, 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.
Yunos and seven others were arrested by police in Sekinchan, Sabak Bernam at 1.45am today over the controversial stunt.
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.