SUBANG JAYA – Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has unwavering support from his deputy minister, despite facing criticism for some of his decisions.
In an off-the-cuff and lighthearted yet meaningful speech, deputy minister Khairul Firdaus Akhbar Khan said, notwithstanding some misconceptions about Tiong, the minister is genuinely working hard to improve the ministry.
“He (Tiong) might look like a fierce person on the outside; he even walks like a gangster.
“Even when I was first told that I would be working with him, I was wary. For the first two months, I didn’t understand him, and I was just starting to make sense of him in the third month (of working together).
“However, after nearly a year and a half of being his deputy, (Tiong) has taught me a lot and given me space to make sure that the ministry’s direction is realised,” he said in jest when addressing attendees of the ministry’s media appreciation night, here, yesterday.
Expressing strong support for Tiong’s approach to work, Khairul, who is also Batu Sapi MP, said that the minister is a “results-oriented leader” who does not talk much and instead will focus on carrying out his job.
“Maybe because of how (Tiong) wants things (to be implemented) quickly, a lot of people cannot understand what he wants.
“Everything (Tiong) does is for the sake of the industry and the ministry; every move he makes is to ensure that plans proceed smoothly. That’s Tiong King Sing,” he said.
The deputy minister also admitted that pressure on the ministry to produce substantial results is a significant weight on Tiong’s shoulders.
“(Tiong) knows that under our country’s current challenging circumstances, the government has deemed the tourism sector as one of the driving forces for our economy.
“I hope that when we know (Tiong’s) aim, we can work together as one family to develop our tourism industry so that (foreign) visitors who visit us see our national beauty and understand how Malaysia works.”
Previously, Tiong’s decision to demote then-Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Ammar Abd Ghapar had incited controversy from certain quarters, including Bersatu MP Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, who had accused the minister of power abuse.
In response to the backlash, Tiong clarified that Ammar was removed from office and demoted due to his non-performance, with the minister noting that the civil servant’s execution of his duties did not reflect his PhD qualification.
Tiong had also received flak after his ministry’s heritage commission listed bak kut teh, a meat bone herbal soup, as a national heritage dish.
In response to Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh calling for his resignation over the matter, Tiong urged the Merlimau assemblyman to first respect others by stopping his racial rhetoric over the dish, which, he reminded, is not exclusively made with pork. – March 9, 2024
