PUTRAJAYA: Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing advised Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor to watch his mouth if he is serious about bringing more tourists to visit the state.
Tiong said this in response to whether he would ask Sanusi to apologise and retract his 'pot-bellied deity' comment against him.
"If he wants to play with politics, that is not important for me.
"If he aims for a higher influx of tourists to Kedah, then the most important thing is to tell him to watch his mouth a bit, that is it," Tiong said when being met by media today.
Tiong cautioned Sanusi against jeopardising tourism development with his offensive comments.
"If he (Sanusi) does not watch his mouth, what will happen?
"The situation would be chaotic, and it is not good for (the development of tourism).
"When people get angry, would they still want to visit the place?" Tiong questioned while citing a previous incident where non-Muslim was being fined for 'inappropriate dressing' in Islamic party-governed states.
Sanusi made the derogatory remark at the Kedah state assembly on Wednesday while accusing Tiong of failing to provide feedback after meeting with representatives from the Thai government in Southern Thailand last month.
Sanusi also commented that Tiong did not have a "face that attracted tourists".
In response, Tiong strongly rebuked Sanusi for making such a remark, accusing him of 'losing his mind' .
Sarawak tourism minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah backed the Sarawakian federal minister Tiong and called out Sanusi's remark as inappropriate as it was aimed at a leader of a different faith.