RENOWNED political commentator Prof James Chin has come to the defence of an intoxicated Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing who is seen sitting in one corner of a longhouse in Sarawak.

Describing the ‘red-faced’ six-term Bintulu MP who was having an alcohol flush reaction as “Sarawak’s most colourful minister”, Chin said such was the sight expected of “(non-Muslim) YBs during Gawai (a celebration to commemorate the end of the rice harvesting season in June) in longhouses”.

“Don’t laugh or criticise,” the professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania tweeted on the X platform.

“It is what it is. What is wrong is for outsiders to use their religious lens to judge the indigenous. It’s none of their business. Agree?”

Although Chin is speechless when asked by a commenter if president of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) is able to provide the “leadership role model for the future generations of Sarawak”, many netizens seemed to concur that “a role model or what you call leadership is to be part of the rakyat who voted him”.

Above all else, Tiong is a leader who understands and gets involved personally in mind and soul in his people’s cultures and traditions” yet knows where to draw the line between proper behaviour at official events and “be merry outside of office”.

As one netizen puts it, those who have never been to or never stayed in Sabah and Sarawak “and have never participated in their celebrations and festivals will never understand”. This is what the real Malaysia should be, he further contended.

Another recalled how ultra-Islamic PAS MPs had criticised Tiong in Parliament until his fellow Sarawakian comrades had to come to his defend. “He was having langkau (strong tuak or rice wain) session and have good time with local Dayak celebrating Gawai in the longhouse,” explained the netizen.

Although “Sarawak’s very own version of Boris Johnson” did receive many praises from netizens - even to the extent of commending him as Malaysia’s best Tourism Minister”- Tiong did have his fair share of detractors. - July 17, 2024

https://focusmalaysia.my/tiong-king-sing-a-minister-who-knows-when-to-behave-orderly-in-office-and-be-merry-outside-of-office/