Nadeswaran blasts Khir Toyo over beer logo issue
Nadeswaran blasts Khir Toyo over beer logo issue
Thursday, January 2, 2003
Onward, with a myopic view?
· If the Selangor Mentri Besar had his way, the Carlsberg Malaysian Open Golf cannot be held at the Mines. By his reasoning, the thousands of spectators and millions of television viewers will get the impression that the country is a "haven for beer drinkers". The large A-boards on the tee-boxes and the fairways which would be captured by television cameras, if the Mentri Besar is to be believed, would create the impression that everyone involved with golf are either drunkards or alcoholics.
· If the Mentri Besar had his way, the second leg of the Formula One championships will never be allowed to be held at the Sepang Circuit. Because there will be large banners and billboards advertising Fosters Beer; the worldwide television audience which runs into at least a billion, will get the impression that everyone who follows motor racing drinks beers by the litres. If the Mentri Besar is to be believed, the viewers will come to the conclusion that motor racing fans will be drunk long before the race itself starts.
· If the Selangor Mentri Besar had his way, Malaysia would have never participated in the Tiger Cup. This, according to him, would create the impression that all footballers in this country drink beer and their participation is an endorsement of the product.
· And finally, If the Mentri Besar had his way, the country's two breweries will be ordered to cease operations or be relocated away from Selangor; failing which, visitors to the state will go away with the impression that the state endorses and encourages beer drinking.
DON'T be alarmed, dear readers. These are my cynical readings of the mind of Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Mohd Khir Toyo.
His recent antics over the issue of beer advertisements in coffee shops and restaurants, have now become a big issue being discussed at parties and get-togethers.
After making his stand known that the beer advertisements give the impression that "the state is a haven for drinkers", he has made several twists and turns in the wake of protests and objections.
From toning down posters in "family restaurants" to limiting signboards with beer logos, Mohd Khir has gone one complete circle and it has finally boiled down to licensing.
Mohd Khir's reasoning holds little or no water. Little wonder that all and sundry came down on him like a tonne of bricks, and he is now left to come up with reasons and excuses for letting his tongue slip.
His bunkered views, I am certain, are not consistent with the aspirations of our national leaders, who are advocating a pluralistic society each with their own beliefs, religions and cultures.
The fact that this decision was never discussed at any forum - the state assembly or the state executive council - gives the man-in-the-street the impression that one individual is trying to impose his will on the majority
For reasons better known to himself, Mohd Khir has ventured into unchartered waters, and if this trend is unchecked, it will drag the whole of society along with it.
His stand, view or opinion or whatever you want to call it, must NOT be argued on moral or religions grounds.
Because when race, religion or culture is used, it takes a dangerous twist, and wittingly or otherwise, politicians jump into the fray for their own selfish reasons.
Hence, common sense should prevail.
If the mere presence of posters and signboards can give the impression that the state is a haven for beer drinkers, then the mere presence of lottery outlets would also create the impression that Selangor is a haven for gamblers.
Similarly, the numerous medical and dental clinics would also represent the myopic view that we are a nation of sick people!
His notion that that "advertisements give the impression ..." is flimsy and unacceptable.
The people have a right to be consulted on changes in laws and policies.
And that's why we have state assemblymen representing the people's interests.
If there is no discussion or consultation, then democracy is not working.
If one man wants to use his decree to make or change laws and policies, then we might as well throw the statutes out of the window and use the law of the jungle.
Or are we getting a glimpse of Selangor's future a'la Kelantan?
Related thread in The Web Forum:
Khir Toyo wants all beer ads removed by March 2003
at this rate toyo would need more than a few pints to drown the noise generated by his boo-boos. time to send the ads to him personally?
The Star executive editor Wong Chun Wai has a different angle on two subjects discussed in The Web Forum - The vice spots in MPSJ areas and the 'No Beer-Logo Signboards' controversy.
Nadeswaran, apparently, pales when it comes to being an apologist.
Who say prostitutes only operate in sex dens? Issues can be kow-tim even in mainstream tabloids.
THE SUNDAY STAR
Sunday, January 05, 2003
Go after those behind the sex syndicates
By Wong Chun Wai
A poison-pen letter that is making its rounds in political circles and newspaper offices has implicated two politicians and a former policeman in the running of several budget hotels fronting as brothels.
...The poison-pen letter has been sent to Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, who is very concerned about what is happening in the state and is determined to embark on a clean-up.
As a start, he is ordering liquor companies to tone down on excessive advertising, especially those showing scantily dressed women.
“If the char koay teow is really good, customers will patronise the coffee shop irrespective of whether it has huge beer advertisements or not,” he said. He has a point.
Coffee-shop owners have protested against the move requiring them to seek approval from the local government to put up liquor advertisements. Some claim it would affect their business.
It is unlikely that their business would suffer but the coffee-shop owners may lose sponsorship, particularly in putting up stalls and signboards.
The state government is obviously more concerned with public complaints that budget hotels and spa centres, fronting as sex dens, are sprouting up. Housewives claimed that their husbands patronise these brothels.
The authorities have ordered a crackdown on such outlets, particularly those operating near residential areas.
THE STAR Metro
Tuesday, January 07, 2003
Get licence for liquor and wine ads, operators told
By SALINA KHALID
THE Selangor state government decision requiring all restaurant operators to obtain licence for liquor and wine advertisements in their premises by March still stands.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said the state government would not deviate from the decision despite objection from some parties.
He said the restaurant operators who do not sell liquor or wine but still carry these advertisements in their premises would have to acquire a special licence to do so.
“They have until March to apply for the licence. Otherwise we would still have to ask them to bring the advertisement down, just like any other unlicensed advertisement,” he said.
Dr Khir was speaking at a recent Hari Raya open house in Subang.
He said a special committee, chaired by the state local government, environment, housing and squatters chairman Datuk Mokhtar Ahmad Dahlan and state executive council Datuk Ch’ng Toh Eng, had conducted a meeting with the Selangor Chinese Traders Association and liquor and wine producers representatives two weeks ago.
He said the response received from the meeting was positive.
“It is clear in the guideline that they can advertise what they sell.
“So if they do not have the permit to sell the item, then why do they need to advertise it?” he said.
“Besides, we decided to take this stand because we have received complaints from the public about excessive advertisement at some premises,’’ he said.
Dr Khir admitted that some operators were still unclear about the ruling.
Meanwhile, Mokhtar said another meeting would be called to draw a comprehensive guideline before being tabled at the state exco meeting.
He said the guideline would be applicable for all local councils in the state.
“There is a grey area with regards to this matter under the local government act.
“Some operators said they did not understand that each advertisement requires a licence before they could put it up,” he said.
He added all premise operators have to apply for a licence from the local authority before March.
If they do not obtain the permit by then, they will be asked to bring down the advertisements or face action from the authorities.
3:39pm Mon Jan 13th, 2003
S’gor MB should seek cure for ineptitude
Selangor Menteri Besar Mohd Khir Toyo must seek a cure for his inept decrees.
On several occasions, his reckless dispensing of authority and power as the head of the state government did not go down well with the people and their leaders. Worse, his words and actions hurt the rakyat's feelings and it took time to heal the wounds.
Last December, Khir gave those food and beverage outlets and restaurants not licensed to sell alcoholic drinks three months to take down all signboards that carry beer logos. He said such signboards could give tourists the impression that Selangor is a haven for boozers.
His decree created a ruckus. The Federated Chinese Associations of Malaysia (Hua Zong) described the directive as inappropriate for a multi-cultural country. Both mainstream Chinese newspapers, Sin Chew Daily and Nanyang Siang Pau, responded with stinging editorials questioning his motive, and his lack of consultation within the state executive council and with the affected communities, particularly non-Muslims.
In stark contrast, Menteri Besar Tajol Rosli Ghazali was quoted as having given his guarantee that such a policy would not be adopted in Perak.
As the heat of public opinion escalated, Khir resorted to his hallmark of twists and turns. From the initial blanket banning of beer-sponsored outdoor signboards, he meandered to taking objection to the indoor posters of scantily-clad women advertising liquor products. The loose cannon in him finally came full circle in pinpointing enforcement of licensing rules at the local government level.
No doubt, the Chinese community has had age-old affinity with a beer culture. However, it must also be realised that the top two breweries in Malaysia are also instrumental in raising funds for vernacular schools for buildings, facilities and IT projects through the proceeds of beer-sales or sponsored concerts and merchandising. By targeting the common denominator among the business communities, Khir risks colouring the socio-cultural fabric of non-Muslims and incurring the wrath of the masses.
Last July, Khir was embroiled in verbal sparring with another community when he short-circuited himself by blaming MIC for its inability in solving the Indian gangsterism problem in Klang and Petaling Jaya. MIC president S. Samy Vellu subsequently went to the media and blasted him for pitting MIC against the All Malaysian Indian Progressive Front over social problems plaguing the Indian community.
Khir wriggled his way out by saying he was misquoted by the press. The rhetoric made its rounds, Khir regained his moral high ground but the gangsterism issue simmers on.
Looking back further, Khir went on record in October 2001 as saying that the state government had identified 30 Hindu temples for demolition. The issue became acute after the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) demolished the Sree Veera Bathra Kaliaman temple in Bandar Sunway when the Hindus were in the midst of observing the 10-day Navarathri period of fasting and prayers. It was seen as an act of insensitivity to a minority group.
Again, Samy Vellu was obliged to express his displeasure on behalf of the community. However, Khir rationalised that there had been complaints the state had too many temples that were located too closely together.
Khir said the state's policy is that a place of worship can be built in an area if there are between 2,500 and 5,000 followers there. "The ratio is the same for every religion. We are only going by the book," Khir was quoted as saying in The Star.
Interestingly, we don't see new churches being built in places like Subang Jaya and Shah Alam, but the stand-off with MIC at least earned the 30 temples targeted for demolition a three-month reprieve, which remains perpetual till today.
What more can Khir do in attempting to live up to his cliche of "going by the book"? Will the day come when he decrees the closing of all gaming outlets, as excessive presence of the 4G, Big Sweep and Sports Toto signboards could, based on Khir's rationale, give the impression that Selangor is a haven for gamblers?
The lessons learnt from Khir's latest antics over beer logos is that the process of mesra rakyat (people-friendly) and consultation he preaches has been bleached. He seems to favour form and rhetoric over substance, and it appears that he does not hesitate to flaunt his power and authority whenever he pleases.
For now, Khir may think he wears the emperor's new clothes and his decree shall rule the day. But in the short history of Selangor in Malaysia, it's evident that the state carries the Menteri Besar, never the other way round.
Last edited by jeffooi; 13-01-2003 at 04:30 PM.
Now this disease called "Khirtoyocitis" has spread to Perlis. This disease is caused by speaking without thinking. The disease come about because the patient wanted to outdo its competitor who is usually from the opposition in who has higher moral. So he starts shooting from the hips and normally end up shooting its own legs. The patient will try to administer its own treatment by trying the drugs called "Misquoted". Usually the patient recovers quite fast when his cronies rally behind him. His rate of recovery depends on how much and wide his support come from. Sometime he experienced a complete instant recovery when treated by the great Dr M. But there is no guaranttee that the patient will suffer another relapse as shown by the patient history. But he cannot push his luck too far. The next relapse might kill him as this disease has known to have killed the political cereer of others.