“If ‘Mat Salleh’ motor GP team boss can respect religious sensitivities, why can’t DAP do the same?”

 

PODIUM finishes of any sort by a Malaysian will usually dominate headlines and earn plenty of adoring praises.

Over the recent weekend (June 21), Moto3 World Championship rider Muhammad Hakim Danish Ramli ended Malaysia’s decade-long wait for a top podium finish by winning the Czechia MotoGP.

However, it appears that that historic achievement was overshadowed by the actions of team manager Jordi Gatell. Noticing the champagne bottle on the podium, the non-Muslim crew boss quickly removed the bottle placed on Hakim Danish’s first place platform.

Both rider and manager discreetly recused themselves from the traditional champagne shower that accompanies victory celebrations at motorsport events.

This small but meaningful act also demonstrates the close bond between the rider and his team. In a racing world that is often celebrated with champagne on the podium, sensitivity to the athlete’s religious beliefs is something that is greatly appreciated.

Mainstream and social media described the situation as the best example of how a professional team not only understands the technical needs of the riders but also respects the values and identities of the individuals they represent.

This  news of the religiously-sensitive Mat Salleh (slang for Caucasians) team principal was shared in a Facebook Reels by Islamic news portal Berita Alhijrah (same visual as per its YouTube post above) which praised the respectful gesture.

The post has generated 72.7K likes, 1.76K comments and 4.5K shares at the time of writing, denoting that Hakim Danish’s victory at the Brno Circuit and Gatell’s meaningful actions had left a deep impression among local netizens.

However, an oft-repeated query was why DAP could not emulate behaviour of the AEON Credit-M Helmets-MSI team manager, a non-Muslim who hails from Spain.

In fact, there were those who sought to paint the Rocket as a purveyor of moral decay, championing the serving of alcohol at not just official government functions but also in schools or even opposing

Editor’s Note: DAP has fought against a ban on alcohol being served at events held at Chinese vernacular school halls such as wedding dinners and fundraisers, not at national schools per se.

There was even a perception that DAP would have forced the rider to partake in the champagne shower or that such celebrations were “international” in nature and thus should be normalised.

Special mention was reserved for the Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing who is seen as an advocate for alcohol consumption as the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) politician is often seen celebrating at events with drink in hand, especially in his home state of Sarawak.

Apparently, the criticism was not only aimed at DAP but also the PETRONAS CEO who had the misfortune to be doused in bubbly at the 2025 Singapore F1 GP.

The latter had to face much public backlash and had to apologise for his involvement in a public shower.

As can be seen from the comments above, consumption or even association with the demon alcohol is increasingly becoming a hot topic.

Yes, Hakim Danish is well within his rights to not partake in the champagne shower. Yes, the team manager is rightly praised for being culturally sensitive.

But any attempt to defend alcohol consumption, serving or inclusion in any facet of public life does NOT have to be met with derision and contempt.

Respect, tolerance and religious understanding go both ways. Criticise  by all means as it is a citizen’s democratic right.

But do so in a manner that is rationale, logical and reflective of a multi-cultural society instead of linking anything and everything to do with alcohol as sinful.

Such a dogmatic and blinkered worldview is unhelpful in a melting pot country. –  Focus Malaysia