'Have you lost your mind': Tiong slams Sanusi after 'pot-bellied deity' jibe

The verbal altercation between Tourism, Culture and Arts Minister Tiong King Sing and Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor turned ugly with both parties lobbing insults against each other.

Today, Tiong accused Sanusi of having "lost his mind", two days after the latter accused the former of looking like a "pot-bellied, bald deity (Buddha)."

"Has he lost his mind? He (Sanusi) does not even leave a deity alone.

"He said I was sitting under a banana tree, like a pot-bellied Buddha," Tiong (above, right) said in a statement.

On Wednesday, Sanusi slammed Tiong during the state legislative assembly sitting, saying: "If I were to make fun of his face, it's like a bald, pot-bellied tokong."

This was when the PAS leader criticised Tiong for allegedly not providing any feedback during their meeting with representatives from the Thai government in Sadao, Southern Thailand, on Nov 27.

Sanusi also said Tiong did not have a "face that attracted tourists”.

He cited four million Malaysians who visited Thailand yearly, compared to only 1.3 million Thai tourists who visited Kedah in the corresponding period.

‘Is Sanusi possessed?’

It is worth noting that Sanusi had previously accused Tiong of mounting a negative campaign against Langkawi.

On that note, Tiong said he did not know whether to "laugh or cry" at Sanusi's insults.

"Is Sanusi possessed? Is this the mentality of an MB?"

Tiong then accused Sanusi of "not knowing protocol", by asking for additional rice during a bilateral meeting between the leaders of two countries.

"A single plate of rice is not enough for you during an official lunch meeting, and you ask for seconds.

"As a minister, it irks me to see a menteri besar who does not know protocols and basic manners."

Commenting on the discrepancy between the Thai and local tourist figures, Tiong said that as menteri besar, Sanusi should also shoulder some responsibility.

"You don't know how to conduct promotions? Why are you pinning your own mistakes on others?" he asked.