PETALING JAYA: Excessive criticism of foreigners waving Chinese flags at a cultural event in Teluk Intan, Perak, will harm Malaysia’s global image and give the impression that it does not welcome tourists, says Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
The Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister warned that prolonging the issue would negatively affect the tourism sector.
“Let’s find a way to resolve this issue harmoniously and amicably as quickly as possible.
“If we continue to play up this issue, it will discourage tourists from visiting Malaysia and we would lose out in the end,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.
He also questioned how the authorities had reacted to the event when it investigated 17 participants for waving Chinese flags instead of just investigating the event’s organiser.
“If the authorities want to investigate whether the organiser had a permit to hold the parade, it should be the organiser that is held responsible, not the participants who are foreigners.”
Sixteen police reports have been lodged so far over the Oct 24 event, where a group of Chinese nationals waved their country’s flag during a parade in front of the iconic Teluk Intan clock tower as part of the Guan Gong festival, which is celebrated worldwide as a homage to the god of war.
The organiser, Guan Gong Cultural Association, said the China flags had not been part of the parade and they were raised by Chinese nationals, not Malaysians.
Controversy ensued when Perak PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria claimed that the event was also attended by Perak DAP leaders Nga Kor Ming and Wong Kah Leong, a claim both have refuted.
Tiong said the world Guan Gong celebration included participants from Vietnam, Thailand and China, all of whom took part in the parade.
He added that the Chinese nationals might have carried and waved their flags in the spirit of mutual celebration in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of China-Malaysia ties.
“I support the statement by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad that the issue should not be blown out of proportion and that Chinese tourists waving their national flag is not a crime or an offence.
“In the past, the flags of other countries have been clearly displayed in Malaysia without attracting any criticism.
“Why are the critics practising double standards in this case?” Tiong added.
