Amanah, PKR rap Tiong as brickbats continue to rain over alcohol
Published: Oct 6, 2025 2:41 PM
Updated: 6:29 PM
Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing continues to face backlash over alcohol being served at a tourism industry gala dinner he attended.
Critics from both sides of the divide have described the minister’s defence that the event had been taken over and funded by industry players as simply dodging accountability.
“Tiong’s statement denying the Tourism Ministry’s direct involvement in the event on the grounds that it was instead an ‘industry initiative’ only gives off the impression that the ministry is refusing to take responsibility,” said Amanah Young Women chief, Masturah Abu Bakar, in a statement today.
PKR Youth deputy chief Nabil Halimi also added that, “the statements issued (by Tiong) are merely defensive and continue to place the blame on others.
“This is not an example of responsible leadership, let alone from a minister entrusted to represent the Madani government. It also shows the failure of the ministry in controlling and managing official events,” he said.
Bersatu Youth voiced similar sentiments and said action must be taken.
“If no action is taken against this incident, then it will set the narrative that those from the upper echelons of society can be excluded from adhering to the law. For serious offences such as serving alcohol, the government should prove that the principles of accountability still exist within their establishment,” it said.
Backlash grows despite clarification
The event in question was a dinner held in conjunction with Tourism Malaysia’s Global Travel Meet.
Photos from the event showed Tiong and other guests with wine and beer glasses in their hands, which has been met with widespread backlash, including calls for Tiong’s resignation.
Responding to critics, the minister denied that alcoholic beverages were served at a government-hosted dinner.
He later clarified that the government was originally supposed to host the event. However, following the success of the Global Travel Meet, private companies then took over the hosting and funding.
(L-R) Selangor state executive councillor for local government and tourism Ng Suee Lim; Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing; Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce advisor Loo Kok Seong
Tiong emphasised that his critics were welcome to inspect the event’s billings to verify that no taxpayers’ money was used on alcoholic beverages during the event.
Besides brickbats over alcohol, critics also took the minister to task over other alleged blunders, such as collaborating with Starbucks for the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
Similar sentiments were echoed by the Amanah Young Women wing, urging the government to re-evaluate the partnership and prioritise collaborations with local brands instead.
“In the context of Muslim consumer sentiments on the whole Palestine-Israel issue, the choice of such a controversial global partner can be seen as unwise, and inviting public anger,” said Masturah.
Political hysteria and hypocrisy
Meanwhile, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng and former law minister Zaid Ibrahim criticised the outrage over alcohol at the gala dinner, describing the backlash as merely “political hysteria”.
Lim said the outrage was manufactured and hypocritical.
“Tiong approved this initiative to reduce government spending. It was a practical, transparent, and cost-saving decision. To claim otherwise is to ignore the real challenges of managing a global tourism industry,” he said.
Tiong emphasised that his critics were welcome to inspect the event’s billings to verify that no taxpayers’ money was used on alcoholic beverages during the event.
Besides brickbats over alcohol, critics also took the minister to task over other alleged blunders, such as collaborating with Starbucks for the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
Similar sentiments were echoed by the Amanah Young Women wing, urging the government to re-evaluate the partnership and prioritise collaborations with local brands instead.
“In the context of Muslim consumer sentiments on the whole Palestine-Israel issue, the choice of such a controversial global partner can be seen as unwise, and inviting public anger,” said Masturah.
Political hysteria and hypocrisy
Meanwhile, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng and former law minister Zaid Ibrahim criticised the outrage over alcohol at the gala dinner, describing the backlash as merely “political hysteria”.
Lim said the outrage was manufactured and hypocritical.
“Tiong approved this initiative to reduce government spending. It was a practical, transparent, and cost-saving decision. To claim otherwise is to ignore the real challenges of managing a global tourism industry,” he said.
Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng
He also expressed solidarity with Tiong and explained that such an “isolationist mindset” condemning the use of alcohol at such events would only cripple Malaysia’s tourism industry.
“Malaysia needs more leaders who make pragmatic choices, not political performers who thrive on outrage,” Lim added.
Meanwhile, Zaid also described the issue as “economic hypocrisy”, noting how the government still relies on charging “sin taxes” on tobacco, gambling, and alcohol, which bring in about RM6 to 8 billion annually.
“Alcohol costs nothing politically to condemn. Condemning corruption means implicating oneself and allies. So when a government function serves wine, Umno or PAS leaders seize on it to reassert moral authority and accuse others of ‘weak faith’. It is not about religion, but about political ownership of Islam.
“If Malays were as intolerant of corruption as they are of a glass of wine, Malaysia would be a far more moral nation with less need for an active and all-powerful MACC,” he said in a post on X.
He also expressed solidarity with Tiong and explained that such an “isolationist mindset” condemning the use of alcohol at such events would only cripple Malaysia’s tourism industry.
“Malaysia needs more leaders who make pragmatic choices, not political performers who thrive on outrage,” Lim added.
Meanwhile, Zaid also described the issue as “economic hypocrisy”, noting how the government still relies on charging “sin taxes” on tobacco, gambling, and alcohol, which bring in about RM6 to 8 billion annually.
“Alcohol costs nothing politically to condemn. Condemning corruption means implicating oneself and allies. So when a government function serves wine, Umno or PAS leaders seize on it to reassert moral authority and accuse others of ‘weak faith’. It is not about religion, but about political ownership of Islam.
“If Malays were as intolerant of corruption as they are of a glass of wine, Malaysia would be a far more moral nation with less need for an active and all-powerful MACC,” he said in a post on X.
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