Firdaus Wong has bone to pick with Tiong over free-flow beer “amid display of nation’s coat of arms”

 

TOURISM, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has again been accused of getting his ministry involved in an event where free flow of beer was available.

This follows the question raised by Muslim convert preacher Firdaus Wong Wai Hung as to whether “a ministerial event such as that by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) which displays the nation’s coat of arms can serve alcohol”.

The event in question is the “MOTAC Pre-Gawai programme @ N69 Kemena Community” which was held last Friday (April 24) at the Dinner World Restaurant in Bintulu which happens to be Tiong’s parliamentary constituency.

“PMX had reprimanded last year’s Global Travel Meet gala dinner that was said to be a self-funded official event for serving alcohol even though there was a MOTAC logo on display,” jibed the Multiracial Reverted Muslims (MRM) founder in a recent Facebook post.

Every race and religion has the right to practice their own beliefs. It doesn’t matter if they want to celebrate and drink whatever they want. Perhaps if there was no MOTAC logo, my question wouldn’t arise.

“Will TKS (Tiong) use the same excuse or a different one this time?

To recap, the Global Travel Meet gala dinner held on Oct 1 1ast year became a hot potato between the rightist fraternity and non-Muslims who deemed that a little leeway was justified given the event’s international stature.

Mediating in the controversy, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has issued a stern warning to Tiong and MOTAC over the serving of alcohol at an official government event while stressing that it must never be repeated.

PMX further shot down MOTAC’s explanation that alcohol was served only after the official programme had concluded as unacceptable given the government maintains a firm and no exception policy against serving alcohol at official functions.

With reference to the pre-Gawai event, Tiong has stressed its importance in the effort to preserve and uphold the cultural heritage which is the unique identity of the Sarawak community

“The Gawai celebration is not only a tradition of the Dayak community but also a manifestation of gratitude and harmony within the community of various races,” the six-term lawmaker and Sarawak-based Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president penned in a FB post.

Although the rightist fraternity sided with Firdaus that government-linked events must exempt alcoholic beverages at all cost, presumed Sarawakians took exception given “tuak (fermented rice wine from Sarawak) has been part and parcel of the Dayak tradition since time immemorial”.

“Muslims need not touch it … In Sarawak, all races can sit and drink together to various types of food and beverages, including pork and alcohol, but in the Peninsula, the thinking is different,” observed a commenter.

This was when another commenter shared that according to the latest governmental stance, alcohol is prohibited so long as “it’s a ministerial Gawai event” but such ruling does not apply to “community or private celebrations”.

So the solution for Tiong is simply not to display MOTAC logo or the nation’s code of arms (can replace with logo of  political party/ies or sponsors) in future events that involve free flow of beers, wine or liquor. –  Focus Malaysia