Tengku Muhammad Taufik Aziz, president and group CEO of Petronas, has issued a public apology for participating in a champagne shower celebration following the Mercedes-AMG team’s victory at the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix.
In a concise statement, Tengku Taufik described the win as a significant milestone in Petronas’s longstanding partnership with Mercedes-AMG, expressing his honour at being invited to accept the Winning Constructor Trophy on behalf of the team. However, he admitted that his “spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment exuberance” during the celebration may have been inappropriate.
“As a Muslim, I should have been more mindful of the sensitivities surrounding such celebrations,” he said. “While I can categorically state that I did not consume any alcohol, I apologise for any unintended offence caused and take full responsibility for my actions.”
The apology comes in response to criticism, including from PAS, which voiced objections to Tengku Taufik’s participation in the champagne shower on the podium after Mercedes-AMG driver George Russell clinched the race.
The incident follows closely on the heels of another controversy involving the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Earlier today, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim issued a warning to Minister Tiong King Sing over the serving of alcohol at a gala dinner linked to Tourism Malaysia’s Global Travel Meet, highlighting heightened public sensitivity to such matters.
Tengku Taufik’s apology underscores the importance of cultural awareness in public celebrations, particularly for prominent figures representing major Malaysian institutions like Petronas.
