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Don’t destroy spirit of tolerance, Tiong tells PAS MP

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Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing

KUCHING: Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has hit out at Permatang Pauh’s PAS MP Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan for asking a shopping a mall at Seberang Jaya in Penang to stop openly promoting alcohol beverages.

Describing Fawwaz’s statement as irrelevant, Tiong said extremist culture that destroys the harmony of a plural society should be stopped.

“Fawwaz should know better that Malaysia is a multi-racial and multi-religious country.

“He should not make the matter a big issue when it comes to religion. Furthermore, this issue is a very sensitive matter among Malaysians,” he said in a Facebook post.

The Bintulu MP said that Malaysians have lived in harmony and shown tolerance for decades.

“Don’t destroy it (harmony and tolerance) in the blink of an eye. Fawwaz also needs to know that the harmony that exists among the people in this country is because of mutual respect for each other,” he pointed out.

He went on to say that if any issue that arises is linked to religion and race, it will certainly bring pressure to various industrial sectors and also affect drawing non-Muslim tourists into the country.

“It is not impossible that tourists will consider us as an extremist country if we continue to behave like this.

“If this continues, they will not be able to have a good ‘first impression’ of Malaysia, they will not be happy with the experience of being here and it will make them choose to go to other countries as a tourist destination,” he said.

He said Penang is the main tourist destination in the country and tourists from all over the world are welcome to visit.

“Many foreign tourists come to Penang to travel, visit historical places and enjoy their free time by ‘drinking’ with family members and friends.

“Therefore, it is necessary for the Penang state government to look at this issue again and at the same time not turn its back on other races to maintain harmony in this country,” said Tiong.

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