Gereja ada, kuil ada, masjid tak ada… WHAT??

The Unfortunate Oversight

During the writing of this article, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Tiong King Sing, made a clarification regarding the absence of a mosque in the promotional video for Visit Malaysia 2026.

In a lengthy explanation, Tiong stated that the visual of a mosque will be included in a longer and more detailed video that will be released later. This means that the 41-second video uploaded to Facebook Tourism Malaysia does not feature a mosque. It’s the reality. Not even a short montage. The duration of the montage is short, and those involved in the production of the video will tell you that their “task” is to create a “kick-off” for a plan and grab public attention. Therefore, it must have elements of “fast editing”. The edited result cannot be dull and tedious. It must have lively music and attractive visuals.

The Problem

Unbeknownst to those involved in the production of the video, a mosque is not included in the list of attractive visuals. Therefore, it is repeated that in the promotional video for Malaysian tourism, a mosque is not present. “And that is the problem”. Churches and temples are used, but for Malay Muslims, “it’s simply adding salt to the wound”. They are angry, and as Malay Muslims in Malaysia are almost always presented with the narrative “Islam is threatened” and “non-Muslims are already daring to challenge”, it’s not something that would upset Malay Muslims. But the video without a mosque “is not helping matters”.

A Badminton Analogy

Let me use the badminton term that we often hear. It’s not because the 2024 Malaysian Open is currently being held in Kuala Lumpur, but because this term can convey everything. I’m speaking about the term “beri bola tanggung”. When a player does this, their opponent will be taken aback and “smash” the shuttlecock to win a point. It’s like that with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture regarding the issue of the video they are facing. They are not only opening their mouths but also giving their opponents a chance to attack. It means they are seeking trouble.

The Fallout

The National Front has censured the ministry for not including a mosque in the promotional video. They cannot be faulted. They cannot be accused of spreading lies. What has happened is like the tip of the iceberg. “God sent” in English. When the ministry was censured, the government led by a figure known for his “Islamic” background was also embroiled. Or entangled.

The Minister’s Response

Tiong, in my opinion, is a hardworking minister, a “hands-on” person. However, the group of “most Islamic” and “most Malay” people before this had accused him of being “too Chinese” and “pro-Beijing”. One of the reasons is that they believe he favors or provides special treatment to the Chinese. More specifically, tourist Chinese. “Good business sense?” It’s debatable. What is certain is that some people want Tiong to be replaced. In other words, they want him to be removed. Is that justified? It’s up to individual opinions.

Conclusion

Despite providing an explanation for what has happened and will happen regarding the issue of the video without a mosque, Tiong must investigate what went wrong. Who produced the video? Who gave the task to the video producer? Was the video produced by them or did they follow someone’s orders? Was it a human error? A lack of planning? Or was it intentional? There are those with their own agenda. Not only is Tiong not without enemies outside the ministry, but also within.

FAQs

* What is the issue about?
The issue is about the absence of a mosque in the promotional video for Visit Malaysia 2026.
* Who is responsible for the video?
The production of the video is a collaborative effort.
* Why is the issue a problem?
The issue is a problem because it does not reflect the diversity of Malaysia and may be perceived as insensitive to Malay Muslims.
* Who has censured the ministry?
The National Front has censured the ministry for not including a mosque in the promotional video.
* What is the minister’s response?
Tiong, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, has apologized for the oversight and promised to include a mosque in a longer and more detailed video.