UMNO Youth has been told that the credibility and authority of a leader should not be tarnished by slapping the person with negative elements, including by issuing radical statements.
Considering this, the wing’s chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh should stop “stirring a hornet's nest” and focus more on addressing the concerns of the people.
The president of the Indian Justice Congress Party of Malaysia (KKIM), Shanmugam Ramaih, said Muhamad Akmal's actions in issuing hard-hitting statements could destroy the unity among the races in the country.
He said the latest statement by the Merlimau state assemblyman opposing the move to list the bak kut teh (BKT) dish as one of the national heritage foods was over the limit.
"I don't see what's wrong with BKT being listed. After all, the listing of BKT is made together with nine other dishes, not as a single food listing.
"Isn't Malaysia a multi-racial nation? It is not a country made up of a single race," he said.
Speaking to Getaran, The Vibes’ Malay language sister portal, Shanmugam said that Akmal's call for Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing to be sacked reflects his arrogance.
"Why blame Tiong? Is it him who made the list?" he said.
"I don't understand why this BKT issue is being manipulated into a racial one. It is only listed as a heritage food, not the official food of the country."
Shanmugam said that Akmal in his capacity as an assemblyman should focus on the problems and issues surrounding the people, instead of taking part in trivial matters.
"Why squabble over unimportant things? The people are suffering because of the increase in the price of goods, the rise in the cost of living.
“Don't those pressing matters need to be dealt with urgently?” he said.
"The world will notice that leaders in Malaysia are only busy arguing about such petty things, like the BKT issue while there are other much more important matters left unattended," he added.
Shanmugam also said Akmal should not be disputing the action taken against former Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Tourism Malaysia) director-general Datuk Ammar Abd Ghapar who was demoted recently.
As a minister, he said, Tiong has the authority to take such action on anyone who fails to reach the set performance benchmarks.
"I believe the entire Tourism Malaysia machinery, including the deputy minister, agrees with the action taken.
“Ammar was not fired, he was just demoted. There are also cabinet ministers who were terminated or had their portfolios changed when the reshuffle was made... So what is unusual?
Akmal had recently called on the prime minister to sack Tiong for letting BKT become a national heritage dish.
In a Facebook posting, Akmal said the tourism, arts, and culture minister could have instead recognised Chinese fried rice and other foods that can be eaten by everyone in this country regardless of race or religion.
"If the minister cannot be sensitive to Malaysians, then what is the relevance of this decision?
"It is time for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to sack him," Akmal said.
Other foods listed include mee kolok and nasi ambeng, besides traditional desserts like burasak, dodol kukus tahi minyak, kuih lapis, kuih karas and uthappam.
Some others included an appetiser called jeruk tuhau and the air katira drink. – The Vibes, March 1, 2024
