Khir Toyo wants all beer ads removed by March 2003

[jeffooi]

Khir Toyo wants all beer ads removed from all restaurants, coffeeshops and hawker centres by March 2003
Food practitioners call for respect to multi-culturalism and not follow the footsteps of Terengganu and Kelantan


BERNAMA.COM reports: Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo urged the beer companies to reduce and tone down on their advertisements by March 2003.

December 23, Khir instructed restaurants, coffeeshops and hawkers centres to take down all signages that carried beer advertisements.

Khir said he found these advertisements offensive and he did not want foreigners to get the impression that Selangor was a haven for boozers based on the excessive number of posters advertisements plastered inside and outside the shops.

Agendadaily reports: Dr Khir berkata, di kawasan pentadbiran Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJ) perkara ini banyak berlaku dan pihak berkuasa tempatan itu sudah diarah mengeluarkan surat kepada pemilik kedai makan supaya menurunkan papantanda iklan minuman keras yang keterlaluan.

Meanwhile, Hua Zong criticised the Selangor government's decision as it did not reflect the multi-ethinicity and multi-cultural practices in the country.

The association also expressed its worries that this would not be a precursor to Selangor following the footsteps of Terengganu and Kelantan state governments.


Nanyang Siang Pau:
Hua Zong criticises Khor Toyo's decision
Restauranteurs association wants respect for multicultural society

[joker2107]

is anyone compiling the goofers by this khir toyo fella?

i'm sure it could make big bucks once it gets into print. for me i'll still stick to my vending machines for condoms.

[luke]

ahhaahhaaaaaaaa

[jeffooi]

Ho ho ho ho... lain cerita across the border, in Perak.
Hope the politicians there are still sober...


NEW STRAITS TIMES
Thursday, December 26, 2002

Restaurants can still carry beer ads
V. Anbalagan

The Perak Government assures restaurant and coffeeshop operators in the State that they are free to display beer logos in their advertising signboards.

State Executive Councillor Datuk Ho Cheng Wang said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali provided the guarantee when the matter was brought to his attention.

...He said this in reaction to Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Mohammad Khir Toyo's warning to all food outlets, coffeeshops and hawkers in the State to remove beer logos from their signboards within three months.

The business community, especially the Chinese, have expressed concern over the directive.

Ho said it was a bad omen for the Chinese to remove such sighboards from their business premises as it could mean business was coming to an end.

"We appreciate Tajol Rosli's understanding as it put to rest any apprehension among the business community in the State," he said.

It is learnt that the cost of installing such advertisement boards were either borne fully or partially by beer companies in return for promoting their drink to customers.


FULL STORY:
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/N...70156/Article/

[jeffooi]

STRAITS TIMES Singapore
Friday, December 27, 2002

Rising Islamisation worries non-Muslims
Penang, Perak: No shorts in libraries
Selangor: No beer ads in eateries

By Reme Ahmad

SELANGOR wants beer ads taken down from food outlets while public libraries in Penang and Perak are stopping women in shorts from using their facilities.

Enforcement of these sorts of rules in the past few weeks has given the impression that political Islam is slowly making its presence felt in public places.

One worry among non-Muslims is that the enforcers are government officials and not linked to the fundamentalist Islamic party PAS.

Another worry is that the enforcers run mainstream states outside PAS-ruled Kelantan and Terengganu.

'It is worrying as non-Muslims could be heading for another type of discrimination.

'After discrimination based on race, will there be discrimination based on religion?' asked a political analyst who declined to be named.

Non-Muslim groups have voiced their disapproval at the encroachment but have skirted direct reference to Islam for fear of broaching a sensitive subject.

They make their case instead on the basis of Malaysia's multicultural and multi-religious heritage.

To be fair, Selangor has always been known for its strong enforcement of Islamic laws - there are regular raids on unmarried couples in parks, for example, and a virtual ban on Muslim girls taking part in beauty contests.

State authorities, in their time, have even banned a concert by pop superstar Michael Jackson.

Officials deny the latest enforcements have been influenced by rivalry between Umno and Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) as each tries to appear more Islamic than the other. They say the rules have been there all along.

PAS, in its bid to outdo Umno, has banned karaoke outlets, pubs, unisex hair salons and gaming outlets.

It has also restricted liquor sales since it came to power in Kelantan and Terengganu in 1990 and 1999 respectively.

So when Selangor Mentri Besar Khir Toyo told all hawker centres and coffee shops to remove beer logos within three months, eyebrows were raised.

The ads were offensive and could give tourists the impression the state was a haven for drinking, he said.

'We advise shopowners to replace their signboards voluntarily with those that do not display any beer advertisements - subtle or otherwise.

'Sooner or later, the government will have to launch enforcement drives against outlets with such signboards and advertisements.'

His comments have raised a ruckus.

'The ads have been here all these years, why have these rules now?' asked one restaurant owner in eastern Selangor, pointing to the large beer ads on his walls.

The Federated Chinese Associations of Malaysia has described the directive as 'inappropriate for a multicultural country'.

A spokesman said the Mentri Besar was only referring to liquor ads in restaurants that did not sell liquor.

'This is not about fighting PAS and has nothing to do with introducing Islamic rules. It is about healthy living and influencing children.

'If non-Muslims want to drink in public, it is their right, the Mentri Besar is liberal about this, but the eateries that do not sell beer should not have the ads,' he said.

Datuk Seri Khir was only reminding the outlets of existing rules, he said.

Women in public libraries face another challenge, according to a letter sent to The Star newspaper.

'I have been told that I cannot wear shorts. I do not see anything wrong in wearing shorts, that is my personal right and I do not see what authority the librarian has to decide what I should wear,' said Dr Sarah Verghis about her recent visit to a Penang library.

Another writer from Ipoh, Dr Yoong Sao Chin, said a library in the Perak capital also frowned on shorts.

A National Library spokesman said the rules to 'dress decently' were not new and it had only on rare occasions turned away visitors due to their dressing.

'Unless they dress like they are going to a beach party, we normally leave them alone,' she said.

'We don't want them to dress up in a way that attracts attention to themselves instead of the books.'


SOURCE:
http://www.straitstimes.com.sg/asia/...62776,00.html?

[jeffooi]

Please mull over the premises for argument/justification
used by the Chinese press.

There is the Dumb and there is the Dumber.
Don't you think so?

Make one wonder whether Nanyang has lost the
intellect or the courage to put forth a reason.


THE STAR
Saturday, December 28, 2002

Mohd Khir urged to rethink liquor ad ban

TWO leading Chinese dailies have urged Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo to reconsider his order to owners of food outlets to remove signboards that carried liquor advertisement, pointing out that it would cause inconvenience and financial losses to small-time operators.

Nanyang Siang Pau, in its editorial, said the Mohd Khir’s order meant that tens of thousands of small time operators in Selangor would have to fork out a small fortune and go through the tedious process of making new signboards to replace the ones they got for free from liquor distributors.

From the political point of view, said the daily, Mohd Khir’s order was reminiscent of the ban on the open selling of liquor in PAS-led Kelantan and Terengganu.

The editorial added that there were currently adequate legislations to regulate the liquor business and that the removal of signboards that carried liquor advertisement appeared to be unnecessary.

Sin Chew Daily criticised the Mentri Besar for issuing the order without prior consultation with the parties concerned.

“The order, which was made without going through the democratic process, only reflected the Mentri Besar’s sense of his own values and his personal wish,’’ said the daily in its editorial.


SOURCE:
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story...rner&sec=focus

[joker2107]

"There is the Dumb and there is the Dumber. "

... and there is competition for the dumbest

[jeffooi]

The Dumbest may go to The Star after all.

The Sun (28.12.2002) recaps the editorials of the two Chinese
dailies rather differently. It even runs a blurb on the front page:

"Dailies slam MB's ban on beer logos".

I haven't said anything about the "Man in the News" yet.

[Loke]

hhmm, I wonder which part of the ad is offensive to Toyol - the beer itself or the pair of boobs starring at onlookers!!

wahh - the missing link - beer ads (the second part) and vice activities in Selangor!!??!

[jeffooi]

NEW SUNDAY TIMES
Sunday, December 29, 2002

No ban on sale of liquor in Selangor
Azura Abas

SHAH ALAM, Dec 28: The Selangor Government has no intention of banning the sale of liquor at restaurants and eating outlets.

A statement today by State Local Government chairman Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Ahmad Dahlan and State Information Technology chairman Datuk Ch'ng Toh Eng stated local authorities were concerned over the growing number of liquor advertisements displayed without approval.

They said brewers and liquor manufacturers should advertise only after approvals were obtained.

Mokhtar and Ch'ng will discuss the matter with the brewers, liquor manufacturers and their sponsors.

Restaurant and eating outlet operators who have not applied for permits to put up liquor advertisements have three months to do so.

Brewers and liquor manufacturers are advised not to sponsor any restaurant or business outlets for the next three months while the authorities carry out their checks on advertisements.

On Monday, it was reported that food outlets in Selangor were not allowed to put up liquor advertisements on their signboards without approval of local authorities.

...Dr Khir had expressed concern over too many food outlets advertising liquor without approval in certain areas, including Subang Jaya.


SOURCE:
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/N...82013/Article/

* * *

THE SUNDAY STAR
Sunday, December 29, 2002

No ban on alcoholic drinks
By LOONG MENG YEE

SHAH ALAM: Selangor will not ban the drinking of alcohol although it intends to regulate the excessive advertisement of alcoholic beverages, especially those found in family-oriented eating outlets, said state executive councillor Datuk Ch’ng Toh Eng.

“Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has no intention to disallow the sale of alcoholic beverages as he recognises that the state is made up of different races with different orientation towards alcohol consumption,” he said.

“He knows, for instance, the Chinese community takes to drinking at social functions and at festive occasions.

“He accepts it and does not wish to take away the community’s right,” said Ch’ng, who is also Selangor MCA secretary.

Read special report at www.usj.com.my


He said Dr Khir was concerned over beer advertisements with scantily dressed women found in eating places frequented by families.

...However, certain quarters had criticised the announcement and claimed that the move was the first step towards the eventual banning of the sale of alcoholic drinks in the state.

Ch’ng and exco member Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Ahmad Dahlan, who sit in a committee to look into establishing regulations for beer advertisements and to work with appointed representatives of beer companies and restaurant owners, issued a joint press statement on Friday to clear the confusion.

They said enforcement against such advertisements would only target signboards displaying beer logos without obtaining prior approvals from the local authorities.

“For those who have put up illegal signboards, the state government will give three months to operators of restaurants, coffee shops and other eateries to submit applications to the local authorities to display the beer logos,” said Ch’ng.

He added that beer manufacturers, including their marketing agents and publicists were disallowed from sponsoring any signboards for restaurants, eating shops and other kinds of business outlets within the three-month grace period.


SOURCE:
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story...num&sec=nation

[aimless]

wow! This MB is destined for greatness! His actions are almost as hilarious as a certain US president currently in office...

To our leaders - STOP CONTROLLING OUR LIVES. We don't like it, we don't appreciate it, and if you push hard enough, people are going to push back. You can advise, you can issue guidelines, use propoganda, etc etc - that's your right. Just as long as the final decision on what sort of life to lead is left to the individual - that should be our right.

[ng]

Instead of concentrating on non-productive things like banning of beer ads, boycotting coca-cola and demonstrating outside the american and singaporean embassies etc.

Let me remind the authorities that the following issues are more urgent.

1. The traffic jam is getting worse everyday. Even in non-peak hours, the traffic at federal highway is horrendous ! This is especially true near angkasapuri where people jump-queues.
The time spent in the traffic jams can be used for more family time or more work done !

2. The traffic jam in USJ and SJ is not improving either with a lot of people still double and triple parking. Why can't the authorities provide more parking space ?

3. The crime rate in USJ is not improving judging by the number of cars being stolen recently. Can't more resources be diverted to solve this problem and not on beer-ads !!!

4. I talked to a few foreigners and they say that the average malaysian cannot even give simple road direction instructions in english. Imagine how embarassed I was in being a malaysian.
It is time the average malaysians improve their english by studying at home during their free time and not let emotions get the better of them !

Let us all direct our energies into something more productive and useful for a change !

[ginaphan]

First he objected to the sexist advertising used by beer companies..... (that's a plus point for his political career) ... he should just ensure that advertisements in his state are not sexist ...... he would have won a lot of support that way. I, and along with many NGOs, a certain high profile ministry, would have supported that move since we all hate to see the exploitation of women in the media. (Yes, I am a woman.)

Why did he have to take it a step further to include logos and other forms of advertising? Not even being able to display the image of a beer bottle - that's too much. Soon, the liquor companies will buy over travel agencies ...

O, well, an MB is not an elected position ... He doesn't need our votes!

[edteam]

Gina, you may have got the sequence wrong.

First (Dec 23) Khir Toyo orderd to take down the beer-sponsored signboards, which are 'boring' trademarks and logos hung outdoor.

The Chinese press reported it, Bernama confirmed it. Then ruckus.

Then (Dec 27) Ch'ng Toh Eng said Khir is concerned over beer advertisements with scantily dressed women. These are artfully-executed, visually-enticing posters, pasted in coffeeshops, indoor.

If Khir is 'excited' over the scantily-dressed woman, then, where's the justification to take down the signboards?

They got a boot in the mouth, both Khir and Ch'ng.

* * *

Don't forget too, some of the beer/stout posters in the coffeeshops carry messages like the "Top 10" concerts to raise funds for Chinese school. Last Mid-Autumn festival, Lee Hwa Beng worked with Carlsberg and Nanyang Siang Pau and a free concert at MPSJ padang to raise fund for SJKC Chee Wen.

Do you think these Chee Wen kids will turn kaki botol after they graduate from Primary Six?

[edteam]

THE STAR
Monday, December 30, 2002

LETTER
Don’t raise petty issues that can damage unity

SELANGOR Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has again created an unnecessary issue by ordering food outlets to remove signboards that carry liquor advertisement.

Not long ago, he suggested convenient stores should stop selling condoms in order not to be seen as encouraging the public to indulge in unhealthy sex activities.

He later clarified by saying he merely suggested the stores place the condoms at a place not easily seen, especially by children, after some public outcry over his suggestion.

As it is almost impossible to stop people from indulging in unhealthy sex activities that may lead to infection of deadly disease like HIV virus, the Mentri Besar should instead find ways to prevent people from becoming victims of AIDS rather than discouraging people from taking safety precautions.

We are all living happily in a multi-racial country. Acceptance of and respect for each other’s culture and beliefs have helped us to stay united and overcome difficulties to ensure Malaysia remain stable politically and economically even though uncertainty is still looming over the world.

While non-Muslims consume liquors, they have never, at anytime, encouraged or forced Muslims to consume liquors.

Most of the food outlets owned by non-Muslims are selling liquors and are frequented by mostly non-Muslims whereas food outlets owned by Muslims are not selling liquors though they are frequented by both Muslims and non-Muslims.

We, Malaysians, have generally adjusted our living styles happily without any problem or issue and it is unnecessary for the Mentri Besar to raise the petty matter.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad had mentioned before (after his visit to France) : “French President Chirac was drinking wine when we had meal together, but that does not mean that I do drink wine.”

Therefore, the putting up of liquor advertisement in food outlets owned mostly by non-Muslims should not be seen as offensive to Muslims, as claimed by the Mentri Besar.

It is hoped the Mentri Besar will allow food outlets to continue putting up liquor advertisement.

AH KOK,
Selangor.
(via e-mail)


SOURCE:
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story...ttyx&sec=focus