Oktoberfest: To ban or not to ban – Dr Fatimah Zaharah Rosli
It is good that our society is once again engaged in a discussion which crosses between religious, cultural, social and health issues altogether.
Oktoberfest, a binge drinking festival, originating from Germany has made all the way across the seven seas to Malaysia. For the past few years. And every year, it is held in the same PJ area, known to be the most happening spot in Malaysia.
The call to call off such festival initially started with an article by one of ISMA’s activists in its website, and also the facebook group “Malaysia Tolak Konsert Liar” which sprung after the death incident of a few Malaysians, mostly muslims, during a wild music festival months ago.
Alcohol, which is considered haram or impermissible in Islam has always been the root of many evils, and this is a fact which cannot be denied by anyone.
In Malaysia once again a unanimous issue is being made a hot polemic especially by the mass and social media, with politicians adding on some spice.
Binge drinking is a social and health problem, should not be cultivated, even if you claim ourselves to be only human, irrespective of your religion. As another human being, I definitely honour the life of another, and would not want mortality or morbidity to encompass the life of any other person. And alcohol does just that.
Apart from the unhealthy habit of binge drinking, this particular festival also promotes women as sex objects, some mere creature for you to have fun with while drinking like blowfish. I would like to call upon women’s lib organizations from all corners of Malaysia, either Islam-oriented or not, to protest against this disgusting portrayal of women which fills the so called Oktoberfest ads throughout social media.
Oktoberfest is not the only celebration which blatantly degrades women in Malaysia. All over our capital city, Kuala Lumpur, many night clubs promote their clubs by having parties which allows free entrances for women. This is not a gentleman gesture, au contraire it is an act to lure in more girls, to get in more male customers who go there just for the sake of having fun.
Claiming that a festival as bad as this as something related to human rights is basically moronic. Where is the basic human rights to health and dignity in this kind of festivals?
Dr Fatimah Zaharah Rosli
ISMA and I-Medik Negeri Sembilan Activist
Medical Officer, Klinik Kesihatan Tampin
