Bersatu lawmaker Wan Saiful Wan Jan should mind his own corruption case rather than meddle with others’ affairs, said Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing.
He also threatened to take legal action against the Tasek Gelugor MP if the latter continued to “condemn” him for drinking alcohol.
Wan Saiful yesterday said it was wrong for Tiong to be drunk in public.
This was in response to videos of the minister drinking and dancing at an event in Pelangai, Pahang, last month.
In a video posted on Facebook today, Tiong said it was Wan Saiful who has a bad public image right now.
“I drink, I dance, does that make my image as a minister bad?
“Go and see what the people are saying.
“Your party talks about corruption every day but now your own party has a lot of people (facing) corruption (cases).
“Mind your own party image first, especially your own image,” he said.
Meanwhile, a veteran activist has called on an opposition MP to apologise to Tiong for her criticism of his public alcohol consumption and dancing at a Gawai festival last year.
Peter John Jaban said the MP, who he did not name, had tarnished Tiong’s image by insinuating misconduct during his official duties.
He also said the MP failed to recognise the advantage of Tiong’s non-Muslim status as a minister.
“Tiong, who is a non-Muslim, is in a position to do what a Muslim minister would not be able to do, and that is to bond with and to serve both the locals and tourists well by dining and drinking alcoholic drinks with those celebrating the Gawai festival,” he said in a statement today.
“That is how the Dayaks celebrate their annual Gawai festival. Fun and party places always attract tourists. Most countries have resorts, bars, clubs and restaurants that cater to tourists.”
It was reported that Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin had, during the debate on the supply bill, questioned Tiong’s way of attracting tourists by “partying and dancing in public”.
Last December, a video of Tiong drinking and dancing at a Gawai festival in Sarawak went viral.
In his winding-up speech in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday, the minister responded by saying that there was no issue with him drinking alcohol as he is not a Muslim.
Tiong also said he did not see the merit in Mas Ermieyati’s complaint about his behaviour in the video.
“We must all respect one another to achieve harmony,” he said.