Minister: No tourism site can cater exclusively to needs of a single religion

Tiong King Sing

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, June 30: No tourism site can exclusively cater to the needs of a single religion, says Dato Sri Tiong King Sing.

Tiong, in a statement yesterday (June 29), emphasised that the Ministry of Tourism aims to promote understanding and respect among all Malaysians and international visitors, enabling them to enjoy a diverse and rich cultural heritage.

“Inclusivity forms the core of our cultural tourism strategy and embodies the value we strive to uphold.

“Malaysia’s tourism sites and cultural heritage should symbolise and inculcate the virtues of inclusivity and diversity,” he said.

He was clarifying his deputy Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan’s recent statement, which purportedly called to turn Pulau Langkawi into a ‘preferred’ destination for Muslims.

According to Tiong, Khairul may not have clearly explained the matter and has spoken to him about it.

“I was overseas on official duty a few days ago, and it seems that the deputy minister’s explanation of the matter fell short of making it clear, which regretfully resulted in public backlash.

“Once again, I apologise for this statement, and I hope we can all work together to uphold the true values of Malaysia and attract international tourists with our warm hospitality in every state,” he added. — DayakDaily