By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 27: The controversy involving the waving of Chinese flags by Chinese nationals during the recent International Guan Gong Cultural Festival parade at Menara Condong Teluk Intan, Perak, was blown out of proportion and will negatively impact Malaysia’s tourism sector.
In a statement today, Federal Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Dato Seri Tiong King Sing described the excessive reactions by some parties regarding this issue not only contradicts the values of moderation but also risks creating the impression that Malaysia does not welcome foreign tourists to participate in local cultural events, which could have negative implications.
“Previously, flags of other countries have been prominently displayed at events organised in this country without attracting such harsh criticism.
“This raises the question of why, in this case, critics are acting with bias or applying a ‘double standard’?” Tiong said.
On Oct 24, a video of a group of participants waving Chinese flags during the festival went viral on social media.
This prompted negative reactions from netizens, leading the organiser, the Guan Gong Cultural Association of Malaysia, to issue a public apology to all Malaysians, stating that the act of waving another country’s flag was never part of the programme’s itinerary.
On Oct 26, various media outlets reported that Perak police had recorded statements from 17 Chinese nationals involved in the parade.
At the same time, Tiong urged the authorities to handle the case involving the 17 Chinese nationals with fairness and transparency.
Echoing the sentiments of Perak Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Saarani Mohamad, Tiong agreed that the Chinese participants waving their national flag is not a crime or an offence.
“If the flag bearers are not Malaysian citizens, then it shouldn’t be an issue. If we continue to condemn this incident, there is a risk that it will intimidate foreign tourists who wish to visit Malaysia, ultimately harming the country’s tourism sector,” he added.
Tiong further urged all parties not to prolong this issue excessively, as it may create unnecessary unrest.
“Instead, let us find the most harmonious and amicable ways to resolve it quickly. If we continue to escalate the situation, it will ultimately deter tourists from visiting Malaysia, which would be detrimental to us all,” he emphasised. — DayakDaily
