KUCHING: Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has called on Malaysians to think critically and remain level-headed in response to the July 26 rally organised by Perikatan Nasional that demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Tiong said such a rally could harm Malaysia’s image and derail ongoing efforts to stabilise the economy.
According to him, all the blame for any malaise in the country should not be put solely on the Prime Minister.
“Without favouring any side, I simply ask the public to reflect: are all the problems we face really the Prime Minister’s fault?” he asked.
“Protests like this, if held too often, risk creating the impression that Malaysia is politically unstable,” he lamented in a statement posted on his Facebook.
“If we are seen as a country in constant turmoil, will investors still come? Will tourists still want to visit?”
He pointed to the period before the unity government took office, reminding the public of the challenges Malaysia faced including the COVID-19 pandemic, leadership changes, and political uncertainty.
Tiong said poor governance under past administrations had already discouraged foreign investors and disrupted development.
He pointed out the poor governance during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s tenure.
He claimed that it led to capital flight, cancelled projects, the sale of national assets, and high spending with little accountability, which compounded the financial strain now inherited by the present government.
“Why didn’t the public demand to know where the money from that sale went?” he asked.
“That administration spent more time blaming the previous government than fixing the economy, and instead of improving, it worsened.
“The current government is now shouldering the burden of cleaning up the mess left behind. Fixing these problems takes time; the results won’t come overnight.”
Tiong called on Malaysians, regardless of race, to stay united and avoid expressing dissatisfaction in extreme ways, as such behaviour could jeopardise the nation’s future.
He said, while criticism over national debt and economic performance was valid, it must be considered in the proper context where the Unity Government took over while Malaysia was still reeling from the pandemic’s economic impact.
“Since then, ministers have been working hard to cut unnecessary spending, attract investments, and revive the economy,” he said.
Tiong pointed to tourism reforms under his ministry as proof that difficult changes can deliver results.
Despite initial criticism, he said the initiatives helped boost international arrivals and benefited sectors like logistics, small traders and the B40 group.
“These achievements wouldn’t have been possible without the Prime Minister’s strong support,” he said.
He also backed the government’s targeted diesel subsidy, calling it necessary to curb misuse and ensure aid reaches those in need.
A sharp drop in diesel sales after the cuts, he said, exposed the scale of previous leakages.
“I’ve long raised this issue. Untargeted subsidies strain the country’s finances. The savings can now be used to improve essential services, but progress takes time,” he added.
Tiong reminded the public that many of the issues raised by protestors were not within the Prime Minister’s power alone, but involved Cabinet decisions.
“As a Cabinet member, I continue to voice the people’s concerns and work on improvements,” he said.
“But I hope Malaysians will support efforts to maintain political stability instead of turning every issue into something racial or divisive.”
“I’ve long fought for reform, even when I was on the backbench. But it is only this Prime Minister who has shown the courage to push for real change.
“That’s why I urge the people to give him their full support in building a better Malaysia.”
