Pas Berates Petronas Ceo For Champagne Shower Podium Celebrations At Singapore F1 Gp

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ONCE again, PAS has seen fit to get onto its high horse to pass judgement on events beyond its remit.
This time it involves the recently concluded Formula One Singapore Grand Prix whereby tradition has it that champagne is presented to three drivers on the podium who will almost always spray the bubbly around.
Like it or not, fate had it that Mercedes-AMG Petronas driver George Russell claimed victory which should be a proud moment for Malaysian F1 enthusiasts.
Instead, the Islamist party’s information chief Fadhli Shaari took exception that PETRONAS president and group CEO Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik was involved in the prize-giving ceremony which entailed the champagne shower ‘ritual’.

This came fresh from the recent brouhaha over free flow wine at the recent Tourism Malaysia’s gala dinner, of which the excuse proffered was that the gala dinner was organised by private bodies.

“How can a senior member of PETRONAS management who is a Muslim be so gleefully involved in this controversial shower celebration?” wondered the Pasir Mas MP indignantly in a Facebook post.
“Even if the bubbly was of the non-alcoholic variety, it’s best to not to get involved in such celebrations as the common perception is that such podium revelry is often associated with intoxicating booze.”
Further adding fuel to the fire, Fadhli cautioned the government NOT to dismiss this as a non-issue as it was a non-governmental event.
It being the PAS information chief’s social media page, many like-minded commenters nodded in agreement.

Needless to say, this was seized as an opportunity to somehow blame DAP for a perceived crumbling of moral values.

Even though the event was across the Causeway, some commenters saw fit to symbolically tie it to the current Madani administration, insinuating that this was the consequence of a liberal government.

Some even demanded that Taufik be fired or stepped down on his own accord for bringing disrepute to the state-owned oil corporation and shaming the nation!

To highlight this as an issue is truly clutching at straws.
Firstly, it is an event outside the borders of Malaysia. The Madani administration has no say over how it is conducted. Like it or not, not all countries share the same value system as PAS.

Secondly, to then blame the Madani administration for the conduct of the PETRONAS bigwig at the podium celebrations is flimsy in the extreme.
Should PETRONAS not participate in a high-profile event given that it is a major sponsor? Perhaps PETRONAS should have sent a non-Muslim representative but do they even exist?
Thirdly, this howling at the presence of alcohol at events such as the recent Global Travel Meet Malaysia may endear PAS to its core supporters.
But it surely has a opposite effect on non-Muslim voters who may NOT themselves consume alcohol but will view PAS’ reaction as further proof that it will impinge on minority rights.

Fact that the party has seen fit to cry foul over an event held abroad will do little to convince the non-Muslim demographic that PAS is ready to take over Putrajaya.
Like it or not, that demographic is looking very much like kingmakers at the next general elections. –  Focus Malaysia

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