MCA President Wee Ka Siong is portraying the Cabinet decision to allow Timah whiskey to maintain its name as a big gain for the non-Malay community and non-Muslims, shows the steep descent and extent of how much the rights and status of non-Muslims has deteriorated when MCA got back into government and Wee was appointed as Transport Minister. A non-issue like retaining the name of Timah whiskey requiring Cabinet approval has made Malaysia an international laughing-stock and shows how perilous the position of non-Malays and non-Muslims are under the current Federal government.
If retaining the status quo in allowing Timah whiskey to maintain its name is being dishonestly spinned by Wee Ka Siong as a gain for the non-Malay rights, what about the more serious matter of banning the sale of alcohol in Chinese medicine halls and sundry/grocery shops by DBKL? Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong along with Domestic Trade and Cooperatives Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi should be ashamed that they cannot handle such a simple matter as a name that was clearly in reference to “bijih timah” – the Bahasa Malaysia term for iron ores, until it required the intervention of Cabinet.
If both Minister stated that retaining the name Timah whiskey as a demonstration of “Keluarga Malaysia”, whilst supporting the ban on the sale of alcohol in Chinese medicine halls and grocery/sundry shops that has been undisturbed since Merdeka, then they are out of touch and disconnected with the aspirations of Malaysians, particularly non-Malays and non-Muslims. The ban on the sale of alcohol by DBKL in the capital city clearly interferes in the traditional business practices and customary lifestyle of non-Muslims that is contrary to the Keluarga Malaysia and the diversity and multi-racial and multi-cultural character of Kuala Lumpur.