PETALING JAYA: Tiong King Sing, the minister of tourism, arts, and culture, has explained that his recent apology to Chinese and Japanese visitors was not the debate surrounding non-Malay languages on signboards but rather mishaps involving travelers.
Tiong expressed regret for Malaysia’s failure to ensure the safety of tourists in a Facebook post.
“We have an obligation as hosts to ensure visitors can have a safe and enjoyable vacation,” he said.
“It is heartbreaking when travellers come to Malaysia expecting an amazing vacation and then encounter unanticipated tragedies that affect them and their families.”
According to a source yesterday, Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal connected the Kuala Lumpur signboard dispute to Tiong’s apology in Shanghai.
In his introductory remarks at a tourism expo in Shanghai, China, on November 22, Tiong expressed regret for the “unpleasant” that certain Chinese visitors had encountered in Malaysia and promised to enhance security protocols.
However, the statement omitted details about these occurrences or Malaysia’s deficiencies.
Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, who allegedly recommended that the government look into shifting Tiong’s portfolio to one that concentrated on enforcement action, was also criticized by Tiong.
According to Mas Ermieyati, the minister ought to have supported the use of Malay as the national language on signboards.
“Avoid portraying yourself as a hero before you have a complete grasp of the circumstances. You were my ministry’s deputy minister before. What have you accomplished for the nation as a leader? He inquired.
Tiong stated that while he appreciated helpful criticism, he asked Malaysians to put unity and progress first.
“We need to give the world a good impression of our country, so I kindly ask everyone to think about the people’s struggles and concentrate on the country’s development,” he said – FMT
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