Sarawak DAP chairman and Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen has described the withdrawal of a locally brewed craft beer named “Santubong” as a significant setback for Sarawak, lamenting it as a “loss of a precious part of Sarawak’s values of tolerance and harmony,” according to The Borneo Post.
Chong criticized the decision by a Sarawak-based craft beer producer to pull the product from the market following objections from Santubong MP Nancy Shukri and her constituents. He argued that naming the beer “Santubong” posed no issue, as it served to promote Sarawak’s distinct identity.
“Embracing such initiatives is a way to showcase Sarawak to the broader world,” Chong said in a statement yesterday. “Just as we proudly export Borneo Fresh Pork to Singapore or promote our locally produced wine, tuak, naming a beer after ‘Santubong’ celebrates Sarawak’s heritage and identity.”
The beer, inspired by the iconic Mount Santubong, is brewed and bottled in Sibu. The company announced the withdrawal of the product due to “overwhelming response and attention” surrounding its name, according to product information.
As the state opposition leader, Chong expressed dismay at what he perceives as growing hypersensitivity among Sarawakians, questioning why the naming of a beer could be deemed offensive. “I would expect such reactions in Peninsular Malaysia, but to see this in Sarawak, driven by Nancy Shukri, is deeply disappointing,” he remarked.
Chong labeled Shukri’s stance on the issue as a misguided “victory,” arguing that it undermines the state’s long-standing values of tolerance and harmony. “This is not just about a beer brand,” he emphasized. “It reflects Sarawak’s gradual slide into the hypersensitive and overzealous political culture we have long prided ourselves on avoiding.”
He warned of broader implications for Sarawak’s unique identity, asking, “Today, it’s a beer brand. What will it be tomorrow? How much more of Sarawak’s distinct character are we willing to sacrifice to appease race, religion, and political theatrics?”
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