By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 4: Minister of Tourism Dato Sri Tiong King Sing refuses to entertain any further exchanges with United Malays National Organisation (Umno) Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh concerning the inclusion of bak kut teh as a heritage food of Malaysia.
Tiong voiced concern as to why this matter persisted as an issue despite the Central Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) National Unity Council having introduced halal bak kut teh made with chicken and lamb meat during a 2018 by-election.
“This is the last time I will respond on this matter. I’m not going to waste any more time exchanging opinions on such trivial matters to argue with you,” said Tiong in a Facebook post on March 1.
“I have emphasised several times that ‘Bak’ in Bak Kut Teh means meat. ‘Geh Bak’ is chicken, ‘Du Bak’ is pork, and ‘Gu Bak’ is beef,” he said, and added that everyone should get a Hokkien speaker to translate the meaning if it is unclear.
According to him, Muhamad Akmal should not jeopardise the dignity of his own party, especially with its vast influence.
“I feel very ashamed and sympathetic on behalf of the Umno Youth for having a leader like you. If you are not very knowledgeable about something, don’t raise the issue of racism and use it as a joke,” the tourism minister added.
Tiong and Muhamad Akmal have been clashing over the issue of bak kut teh being listed among ten new heritage foods in Malaysia. — DayakDaily
