[Watch] Beer-Drinking Contest At Selangor Bar Event Triggers Backlash From Muslim Lawyers
A viral video of a beer-drinking contest at the Selangor Bar Members’ Night 2026 has drawn objections from some Muslim lawyers, reviving a long-running debate over serving alcohol at events held by Malaysia’s multi-religious legal fraternity.
A viral beer-drinking contest at the Selangor Bar Members' Night 2026 sparked objections from Muslim lawyers over the use of subscription fees for alcohol.
Motions to ban alcohol at Bar events have twice been defeated, in 2017 and 2025, reigniting debate over managing diversity within the legal profession.
A viral video of a beer-drinking contest at the Selangor Bar Members’ Night 2026 has triggered objections from several Muslim lawyers.
The event, themed “A Denim Affair,” was held on 23 May at the DoubleTree by Hilton @ i-City in Shah Alam, according to the Selangor Bar website.
It was open to members and chambering students at RM150 per ticket.
The clip was uploaded online by law firm Tan Norizan & Associates and quickly spread on social media.
‘Not A Single Penny’: Muslim Lawyers Object To Fees Allegedly Funding Alcohol
Syariah counsel Muhammad Nazrul Hakim Md Nazir, who runs his own practice and is a member of the Selangor Bar, questioned whether the annual subscription fee paid by his firm was used to fund alcohol.
“If yes, I don’t consent and consider as halal even a penny of the money I’ve paid to be used for that purpose,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
Muhamad Nazrul, who ran for the Bangi parliamentary seat as a PAS candidate in the recent elections and lost, also said the video was unsuitable for social media, arguing that it tarnished the profession’s image and dignity.
He called a drinking contest “very shameful,” even if it did not use members’ fees, adding that it did not reflect the professionalism of the legal fraternity.
Not all lawyers agreed with the objections.
Old Argument, New Flashpoint
A non-Muslim lawyer whose firm uploaded the clip suggested critics raise the matter formally instead.
“If you genuinely believe alcohol should not be served at Bar events, then the solution is quite simple,” said Khoo Boon Han, a partner at Tan, Norizan & Associates, in a LinkedIn post, referring to an extraordinary general meeting (EGM).
Human rights activist and lawyer Siti Zabedah Kasim also weighed in, expressing dismay at calls for a blanket ban on alcohol within the professional body.
