Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Councillor Eric Tay voiced full support for Deputy Premier of Sarawak and SUPP President Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian\u2019s call for Sarawak to chart its own path of progress, one that celebrates unity, diversity, and openness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tay said Dr Sim\u2019s recent statement, \u201cWhile Peninsular Malaysia continues to argue over whether alcohol should be served at dinners, Sarawak must go its own way,\u201d aptly captures the difference in social outlook and cultural maturity between Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOver the past decade, Sarawak has evolved from being underestimated to becoming a state admired for its inclusiveness, rationality, and pragmatism. This progress stems from our ability to uphold harmony and mutual respect across communities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tay stressed that in Sarawak, drinking is not a controversial issue, as long as it is done responsibly and within the law.
\u201cWe must respect every community\u2019s culture and lifestyle. Although Islam is Malaysia\u2019s official religion, Sarawak\u2019s multiethnic society is built on mutual respect. I have many Muslim and Malay friends, and we understand and respect each other\u2019s beliefs. That\u2019s what makes Sarawak truly special,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He explained that beer festivals in Sarawak are organised to promote tourism and boost the local economy, serving as platforms for cultural exchange rather than events to encourage drinking.
\u201cThe beer festival is about creating an atmosphere for interaction and appreciation. Many Muslim friends attend such events to enjoy the decorations and socialise, all while being mindful of their religious values. That openness reflects Sarawak\u2019s harmony and maturity,\u201d Tay said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also cautioned Sarawakians against being swayed by divisive narratives from extremist politicians in Peninsular Malaysia.
\u201cSuch rhetoric only spreads hostility and weakens interethnic harmony. Sarawak must never follow that path. What we must safeguard are unity, rationality, and peace as the foundations of our Sarawakian identity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tay added that what truly matters is not the debate over alcohol, but ensuring Sarawak\u2019s continued progress through education, skill development, and economic strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Sarawak way is the way of unity and respect. Through our actions, we must show that Sarawak is not only Malaysia\u2019s most harmonious state, but also one of its most forward-looking and inclusive,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Councillor Eric Tay voiced full support for Deputy Premier of Sarawak and SUPP President Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian\u2019s call for Sarawak to chart its own path of progress, one that celebrates unity, diversity, and openness. Tay said Dr Sim\u2019s recent statement, \u201cWhile Peninsular Malaysia continues to argue over whether alcohol should be served at dinners, Sarawak must go its own way,\u201d aptly captures the difference in social outlook and cultural maturity between Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia. \u201cOver the past decade, Sarawak has evolvedRead More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33815,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,1,7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33820"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=33820"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33820\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33821,"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33820\/revisions\/33821"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/33815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=33820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=33820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.suppnewsportal.com\/main\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=33820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}