SPEECH BY CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG AT THE LAUNCHING OF THE 45TH PENANG OKTOBERFEST 2017
ON 14 OCTOBER, 2017
H.E. Nikolas Graf Lambsdorff, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Malaysia
Dato’ Hans Peter Brenner, Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany,
Honorable Consul-Generals,
State EXCO Members,
Representatives from Embassies, Consulates Offices and High Commissions
Dear fellow Malaysian and German friends, I’m happy to see all of you again to celebrate the annual Oktoberfest. Despite all the unfriendly noise towards this traditional German Festival that is happening in some other states, I’m glad that in Penang where our German community came here over hundred years ago, does not have to face this intimidation and is able to freely continue to celebrate their festival with our locals.
This evening, we are here to cherish the spirit of brotherhood and togetherness and I want to thank the Malaysian-German Society for organizing this festival in Penang continuously for the last 45 years, the longest in our country’s history. I want to congratulate the joint efforts between Germans and Malaysians working together as a team to continue this annual celebration without fear and let everyone knows there is no place for racial and religious extremism in Penang.
The German Oktoberfest festival has been held for several years in Malaysia without attracting any controversy. Unfortunately certain extremists have seen an opportunity to gain support for the coming general elections amongst conservative voters by seeking to ban Oktoberfest. These extremists do not care that only non-Muslims drink, not Muslims.
Why ban Oktoberfest when Penang has been holding this for the last 45 years without incident? If you want to ban, ban poverty, ban extremism, ban discrimination, ban racism, ban double standards and hypocrisy, ban ignorance or ban corruption. We do not force anyone to drink. Why then should you force Germans and Malaysians especially non-Muslims not to drink?
These extremists may have succeeded in banning Oktoberfest in Selangor or Kuala Lumpur but they will never succeed in Penang. Penang is not keen in banning `this or that’ which interferes in Malaysians’ traditional freedom. We are no Taliban state. The fact that Oktoberfest continues as it has been every year will rebut the lies of those who claims that either Oktoberfest in Penang is banned or the name has changed. Nothing can be further from the truth.
The state government also wishes to thank the police for maintaining safety and security here and in Penang. Despite threats by extremists, we have shown that by standing together we can defeat these extremists who threaten us. Let us stand for diversity, moderation, harmony in a multi-cultural society and mutual respect of different faiths. The police has done their job by ensuring that these extremists do not disrupt our way of life. Malaysia just celebrated our 60th independence anniversary. Only in Penang can you still enjoy the freedoms promised to us under the Merdeka Constitution 60 years ago.
I also like to encourage you all to learn from one another the good values from each culture and continue to meet through the social, cultural and language learning activities organized by MGS at this spacious premise here, provided by the Penang government. We want to thank the German Ambassador who is here with us.
Finally, let me thank the organizing committee and all parties involved for the hard work to arrange this celebration and wish you all having a great time this evening of German culture and entertainments.
Vielen dank, Terima kasih, Xie-Xie, Nandri and Thank you !
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槟城州首席部长林冠英于2017年10月14日在《槟城第45届德国啤酒节》开幕仪式上的致词稿
槟城不是塔利班州！
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德国驻马来西亚大使尼古拉斯葛拉夫拉姆斯多夫阁下
德国驻槟城领事拿督汉斯披得布雷纳
各国驻槟城领事
诸位州政府行政议员
各国大使馆、领事馆、英联邦各国使馆专员代表
亲爱的各位马来西亚同胞及德国的朋友们，非常高兴再次于一年一度的德国啤酒节与各位见面。尽管在其他州属一直出现对于这项德国传统节庆不友善的噪音争议，我对于槟城能继续让已经在此扎根百多年的德国社区不必遭遇此等恐吓与威胁，而且仍然自由地与本地人欢庆这项传统节庆感到高兴。
今晚，我们在此为大马与德国之间兄弟般的情谊而欢欣庆祝，感谢《大马与德国友谊协会》（MGS）在过去45年来在槟城不间断举办这项节庆，是大马历史最悠久的德国啤酒节庆典。在此要恭喜德国人民与大马人民无所畏惧的继续主办这项年度庆典，让所有人知道极端的种族与宗教主义在槟城是没有他们生存的地位。
德国啤酒节在马来西亚本已举办多年并不曾惹起争议。很不幸的一些极端分子却借机想在来临的大选捞取保守选民的选票而执意要禁办德国啤酒节。这些极端分子完全不理会庆典中喝啤酒的不是穆斯林，而是非穆斯林。
既然槟城都已经办了45年的德国啤酒节都相安无事，为什么他们要禁办德国啤酒节呢？如果要禁止，就应该禁止贫穷的发生、禁止极端主义的滋长、禁止歧视的出现、禁止种族主义的横生、禁止双重标准与表里不一的伪善、禁止愚昧无知或禁止贪污腐败。我们没有强迫他人喝酒，因此为何要强迫德国人民及大马的非穆斯林人民不可喝酒？
这些极端分子可以在雪兰莪或吉隆坡成功禁止举办德国啤酒节，但他们并不会在槟城得逞。槟城不会急着禁止“这个”或“那个”影响马来西亚原有的传统节庆自由。
我们槟城不是塔利班州！真的假不了，假的真不了，从德国啤酒节在此年复一年举办就能让这些包括“槟城禁办德国啤酒节”及“德国啤酒节要改名”的恶毒谎言不攻自破。
州政府同时感谢警方在此维持秩序，还有确保槟城的安全。尽管遭受极端分子的威胁，但我们证明只要我们上下一心，就能击破极端分子的恐吓威胁。让我们以尊重彼此信仰来拥抱我们的多元、世俗、和谐及文化百花齐放的社会。警方在此成功确保极端分子无法滋扰及破坏我们的生活方式。马来西亚已经独立60周年，只有在槟城才能让你仍旧享有60年前独立宪法所曾经赋予我们的自由。
我在此鼓励各位多多与各族及各国人士在社会上进行文化交流，特别是由槟州政府提供的这个德国大马友谊协会会所，常年举办各种德国社会、文化及语言的活动让国人参与学习。
感谢德国大使今晚与两国人民同在，谢谢主办当局及参与的各造。
林冠英