KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing wants to know if there is anything wrong with him having an occasional drink of alcohol after a Perikatan Nasional MP called him out over his actions in a viral video.
On Oct 16, Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) asked if the Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister was promoting Malaysian tourism in his own way through "intoxication and dancing publicly."
While winding up his ministerial reply on Budget 2024 in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Oct 31), Tiong remarked: "As MPs, we must work hard to find a way to develop our economy and (not) raise unnecessary issues.
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"For example, Masjid Tanah said I was drunk. I am not a Muslim," he said, adding that he had been invited to a festival in Pelangai, Pahang.
"I was just (having a little fun). What is wrong with that? It is Chinese culture. There is no problem.
"Don't let this affect the harmony and unity in this country. We must respect each other," he said.
Mas Ermieyati made the statement when she interjected during Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin's debate on Budget 2024.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Noh then asked Mas Ermieyati to retract her statement.
"During debates, (lawmakers) are not allowed to mention the behaviour or traits of any minister or government officer other than matters related to their role as parliamentarians," he said.
Mas Ermieyati said while she had no qualms retracting the statement, the matter was related to the discussion in the House.
