KUCHING, Oct 9 2025: Bawang Assan Sarawak State Legislative Member (SLM) Datuk Sri Wong Soon Koh has slammed Umno Youth chief Datuk Akmal Salleh for persistently launching such deliberate, divisive, inflammatory, and politically motivated attacks against Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Sri Tiong King Sing.
He said Akmal’s actions risk making the unity government, which includes Umno, look extreme and fundamentally intolerant on the global stage.
“While Tiong is delivering results and bringing in revenue for the nation, what exactly are you doing?” Wong asked Akmal, in a statement.
He said the Umno Youth chief may have picked the wrong person to attack.
“He (Tiong) is representing the mandate of Sarawak. He is not from peninsular Malaysia and neither is he the one to be easily bullied by your narrow and manipulative politics.
“When you attack him, you are not just attacking an individual, you are attacking a leader who carries the political weight of Sarawak,” Wong said.
Wong, who is also Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) senior vice president, said that if Malaysia is divided racially and religiously “we will be slaughtered in the face of the changing global dynamics.”
He said he welcomes a positive and constructive policy debate, but not racial, religious, or personal attacks.
“Your persistent rhetoric and divisive actions have inflicted a great deal of harm on our nation which was built on the principles of moderation and inclusivity,” he added.
Wong also slammed Akmal for asking Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to sack Tiong as the federal minister.
He said Tiong’s position is not for Akmal to decide, nor will he quit.
Wong said if Akmal cannot work with a multicultural government, then he is free to leave Umno, which is in the coalition government.
“There is no time for responsible leaders to dabble in rhetoric and slogan-shoutings,” Wong said, adding that Tiong has consistently worked to promote Malaysia as a united, inclusive and world-class destination, bringing together all races and faiths to drive country’s economy through tourism.
“All leaders should therefore reject divisive rhetoric and focus instead on strengthening inter-communal trust.
“We should not allow reckless words to destroy mutual respect that we have long nurtured in our multi- cultural and multi-religious nation.
“We should not allow political theatrics to rear its ugly head,” he said.
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