AYER HITAM: Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has expressed regret that a photograph of him attending a temple event has been twisted by irresponsible quarters to give others the impression he was seeking help from a shaman.
The Barisan Nasional candidate for the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat in Johor said circulating the photo with the intention of misleading others was not only disrespectful to the temple committee but also to the religion as a whole.
"The temple committee invited me to attend a deity's birthday celebration in Yong Peng on Saturday (Nov 5) where I briefly sat with them and had some tea before I left.
"The representative also advised me to take care of myself, which is general advice and very common when we visit houses of worship – no matter the religion.
"Twisting facts also opens up the opportunity for others to make their own interpretation or to poke fun at the religion of others," the MCA president told reporters when met at an anti-drug programme here on Sunday (Nov 6).
Dr Wee said some social media users had questioned why pineapples and red-coloured eggs were in the photo, and he explained that these items are commonly used as offerings to deities and are auspicious symbols.
"It is a shame that these tactics are being used by irresponsible quarters. It is dangerous and threatens the country's racial harmony," he said.
