By DayakDaily Team
SIBU, Dec 31: Racial unity and cultural harmony will serve as the cornerstone in presenting the true face of Malaysia during Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026), supporting the nation’s ambitious goal of attracting over 40 million tourists.
In a TVS news, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dato Sri Tiong King Sing emphasised that Malaysia’s real strength lies in its diversity, mutual respect, and harmonious coexistence.
“Racial issues should never be politicised or sensationalised to create tensions. Instead, we must highlight unity and harmony as the country’s defining values for the international community,” he said at a press conference during the Sibujaya Countdown 2025, themed ‘Explore Sibu, Experience Malaysia,’ held on Tuesday night (Dec 30).
He highlighted the robust performance of Malaysia’s tourism sector, noting that the country is on track to reach nearly 40 million visitors, surpassing the initial target of 38 million as of November, with tourism revenue estimated at around RM300 billion.
“Our goal for 2026 is to attract more than 40 million tourists to Malaysia,” he added.
Tiong stressed that achieving this goal requires active participation from the younger generation and strong collaboration across all states to promote local culture, cuisine, and heritage as the nation’s global identity.
On the significance of the Sun Bear Mascot, he explained that it symbolises togetherness, friendliness, and harmony, which are qualities that reflect Malaysia’s appeal to international visitors.
“This mascot embodies a friendly, united, and harmonious Malaysia, the image we want the world to see,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of events such as countdown celebrations in Sibujaya, which serve as platforms to showcase Malaysia’s cultural diversity, traditional cuisine, and the active involvement of youth from all ethnic groups and states.
“We want to show the world the richness of our food and culture, from the Malay, Chinese, Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau, and Kenyah communities, among others, all thriving together in Malaysia,” he said. — DayakDaily
