KUALA LUMPUR: Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has chided an opposition member of parliament (MP) for questioning him consuming alcoholic beverages.
Tiong said the matter should not be an issue and does not determine his performance as a minister.
"I would like to take this opportunity to share my view with the MPs, let us make it right for whatever is right and not make it wrong for the right thing.
"As MPs, we must work hard to find opportunities to develop the nation's economy. Let's not make issues out of nothing. For example, there is an MP... Masjid Tanah raised an issue about me being drunk.
"I am not a Muslim, there is nothing wrong with me drinking. I went to Pelangai and I was invited to take part in a lantern festival. I drank and may have acted a little bit crazy.
"What is the problem with that," he said during the winding-up session in Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Tiong then went on; "If you are great, do your best and serve the people.
"Do not make issues out of nothing, and there is no need to complain about the cultural practices of the non-Muslim community.
"We must respect each other to achieve harmony," he said.
On Oct 16, Masjid Tanah MP Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin raised an issue, asking if intoxication and dancing publicly was one of Tiong's ways to promote Malaysian tourism.