Kuching: DAP Sarawak Green Road Branch Deputy Secretary Chong Hong Hien has issued a direct challenge to the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) to demonstrate its commitment to multiculturalism and consistency on alcohol-related issues.
Chong called on SUPP to first publicly condemn Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri for her earlier criticism of “Santubong Beer,” which he said should never have been an issue in the first place.
He also urged SUPP President and Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian to “walk the talk” by openly serving alcoholic beverages to non-Muslims at official events, as a show of Sarawak’s inclusive and tolerant culture.
“DAP Sarawak stance has always been crystal clear,” Chong said in a statement. “Whether it is the ‘Santubong Beer’ controversy or the Tiong King Sing dinner issue, we have consistently defended the right of non-Muslims to consume alcohol.”
He added that what the party seeks is simple – that the Sarawak government remains consistent in both word and action when addressing alcohol-related matters.
“True inclusiveness is not about slogans,” Chong stressed. “It is about having the courage to defend multicultural harmony – even for that one humble sip of beer.”
Chong explained that during the tail end of 2019, then Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Chong Chieng Jen, hosted a “Media Night” in Kuching in his official capacity.
“Those present were not only members of the media but also government officers. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious – Muslims and non-Muslims sat together, shared dinner, and enjoyed each other’s company through laughter.
“Despite non-Muslims and Muslims sharing a table, non-Muslims were able to drink alcohol and have friendly conversations with Muslims, and Muslims saw no offence in that. Indeed, it was a joyous dinner where everyone shared the same Malaysian identity. That is the true reflection of Sarawak – and indeed Malaysia – in all its diversity and tolerance,” he said.
Yet recently, he said Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing serving beer at a ministry dinner has somehow become a national controversy.
“Although this incident took place in Peninsular Malaysia, the issue of drinking has, absurdly, also been exaggerated and politicized in Sarawak,” he said.
He pointed out that what is truly concerning is not that someone drank beer, but that the very tolerance toward drinking is being slowly destroyed – ironically, by local parties that pride themselves on defending Sarawak’s multicultural and inclusive identity.
“Deputy Premier and SUPP President Sim Kui Hian may say that ‘alcohol is not an issue in Sarawak,'” but the reality is disheartening. The recent “Santubong Beer” controversy has already shown how fragile racial and religious harmony in Sarawak really is—and how those so-called defenders of Sarawak’s autonomy and diversity have, in fact, made things worse.
“Nancy Shukri, a GPS minister and Santubong MP, publicly criticized a brewery for naming its product “Santubong Beer”, claiming that “a Muslim-majority area’s name should not be used for an alcoholic beverage,” he said.
As disheartening as it is that a Federal Minister from Sarawak made such a remark, Chong said what was even more disappointing was that SUPP’s Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap chose to echo Nancy’s statement instead of condemning it.
“When Sarawak DAP criticized Nancy’s comments that go against what we Sarawakians stood for, Yap chose to defend such remarks. SUPP, on one hand, preaches “unity,” but on the other hand, undermines it – a textbook case of double standards and hypocrisy.
“If SUPP truly believes that Tiong King Sing did nothing wrong by serving alcohol at his ministry dinner, then it should have defended the ‘Santubong Beer’ producers at that time. Conversely, if they agreed with Nancy Shukri’s statement, then, on what grounds are they now supporting Tiong?” he questioned.
Chong said that this blatant shift in position within just a month clearly exposes SUPP’s deep-rooted political opportunism and hypocrisy.
Chong further pointed out that Sarawakian ministers in the federal cabinet should not only manage their ministries but also carry Sarawak’s spirit of inclusiveness and diversity into the federal system.
“Yet today, while Tiong King Sing has had the courage to speak up for non-Muslims’ right to drink, Nancy Shukri has done the opposite.
“SUPP’s contradictory stances in these two cases perfectly embody what described as shameless political behavior at its worst,” he said.
