Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing has expressed regret over the confusion surrounding a gala dinner linked to Tourism Malaysia, where alcoholic beverages were served, clarifying that the event was privately organised and not a government function.
Clarifying the Gala Dinner Oversight
In a Dewan Rakyat session on October 9, 2025, Tiong responded to a question from Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli (PN–Dungun) regarding the ministry’s adherence to a government circular prohibiting alcohol at official functions.
The minister attributed the misunderstanding to his failure to announce beforehand that the gala dinner, held in conjunction with the Global Travel Meet exhibition, was a private event organised by industry players.
The exhibition, which attracted 600 international tourism industry participants, generated transactions worth nearly RM420 million over three days. Tiong explained that the gala dinner was initiated by private stakeholders to celebrate this success.
However, social media posts featuring only the Tourism Malaysia logo on the event’s backdrop led to misconceptions about the ministry’s involvement. “The ministry and I take full responsibility and deeply regret any confusion or unease caused among the public,” Tiong said.
Addressing Cultural Sensitivities
Tiong firmly rejected claims that the serving of alcohol prompted Muslim guests to leave the event early, reiterating that the dinner was not managed by Tourism Malaysia.
He stressed that the ministry has consistently adhered to the government’s policy, noting that no alcoholic drinks have been served at official ministry events in recent years.
“For the past two or three years, none of our official functions have served alcohol. We understand the sensitivities and have never disrespected anyone,” he said.
Responding to a supplementary question from Wan Hassan, who called for an apology, Tiong urged against politicising the issue or framing it as an insult to Muslims. “Let us not turn this matter into a political issue or an insult to the community,” he said, emphasising the ministry’s respect for cultural and religious sensitivities.
Exhibition Success and Industry Collaboration
Tiong clarified that the ministry’s initial focus was solely on organising the Global Travel Meet exhibition, a first-of-its-kind event in Malaysia aimed at fostering international business-to-business (B2B) collaborations. Discussions with industry players about a gala dinner were ongoing, with some hesitation due to the event’s novelty.
To manage costs, the ministry negotiated with private stakeholders, who ultimately took over the dinner’s organisation after the exhibition surpassed its RM100 million sales target by September 24.
The minister also acknowledged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent reminder to adhere to government policies on alcohol at official events. Tiong assured that the ministry takes public feedback seriously and is committed to ensuring clarity in future events to avoid similar misunderstandings.
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