KUALA LUMPUR – Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has admitted his mistake in handling the gala dinner held during the Global Travel Meet, which recently drew criticism over the serving of alcoholic beverages.
During the Minister’s Question Time in Dewan Rakyat today, Tiong expressed regret over the controversy, acknowledging that it caused discomfort among the public.
“I and MOTAC (Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture) are deeply sorry for any confusion or misunderstanding that caused discomfort among the people. Any inconvenience is deeply regretted.
“I should have announced that night that the gala dinner had become a private function. I admit my mistake for not announcing it (not an official government programme) earlier,” he said.
He was responding to Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli (PN–Dungun), who had asked about the ministry’s guidelines to ensure official functions comply with Service Circular 3/2003, which prohibits serving alcoholic beverages at government events.
Tiong said MOTAC takes public feedback seriously and appreciates the constructive criticism from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, assuring that the ministry will tighten compliance for all future engagements.
“We will ensure that every official event adheres strictly to government guidelines,” he added.
Despite the controversy, Tiong said the Global Travel Meet was a major success, drawing nearly 600 international tourism industry players and generating transactions worth RM420 million over the three-day event.
“The event’s positive impact on Malaysia’s tourism sector far outweighs the misunderstanding that occurred. We remain committed to promoting Malaysia as a premier travel destination,” he said. – October 9, 2025