PUTRAJAYA: The Better Beer Festival was not allowed to go on because the police have "security concerns", says Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

The MCA president said authorities had told Cabinet during its weekly meeting that safety was one of the reasons why the craft beer festival was cancelled.

"I raised the issue of the cancellation of the beer festival in Cabinet. I said that if it was cancelled due to a political reason, then we cannot accept that reasoning. However, we were informed that the cancellation was because of security concerns," said Liow, who is also Transport Minister.

He told reporters who met him at his ministry after the Cabinet meeting that the views of the police had to be accepted.

He stressed that the party does not agree that the beer festival should be cancelled on political grounds.

"MCA believes that under the Federal Constitution, the people have every right to drink or eat whatever they want to.

"However, as the police and the authorities have a security concern, we have to listen to them. They are the ones who ensure our safety," he said.

Liow, however, said authorities did not elaborate what the "security concerns" were.

"The Opposition is more concerned about the political mileage they can get from this issue. They want to make it as if the Government does not allow the people to enjoy drinking beer," said Liow.

He said this was untrue as people are allowed to enjoy beer.

The cancellation of the craft beer festival, originally scheduled for Oct 6-7 at the Publika Shopping Gallery in Kuala Lumpur became a Cabinet matter after the issue received mixed reactions from the public.

Last Monday, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said it had rejected the organisers' application to hold the event, after receiving a permit application on Aug 28.

The DBKL announcement came a week after PAS central committee member Dr Riduan Mohd Nor spoke out against the event, calling it a "pesta maksiat" (vice party) and claiming that it would turn Kuala Lumpur into the "largest vice centre in Asia".

The festival has been held in Kuala Lumpur for the past five years.

-The STAR-