KUALA LUMPUR – The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) is set to finalize a new promotional video for Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM 2026) following strong criticism of the previous version.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the revised video is being reviewed and urged all parties not to politicize the issue.
“This evening, I will review the final version as it has just been completed. Please do not politicize this matter,” he said during the Oral Question session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He clarified that the previous video was meant to highlight UNESCO-listed buildings and urged the public not to misunderstand its intent. King Sing was responding to a supplementary question from Nurul Amin Hamid (PN-Padang Terap).
Last month, the initial VM 2026 montage received backlash, including from opposition leaders who called for its retraction. Critics accused MOTAC of oversight for excluding mosques in the footage while featuring other places of worship, such as churches and temples.
King Sing had previously admitted dissatisfaction with the video, emphasizing that its primary objective was to promote Malaysia’s tourism, arts, culture, and attractions holistically. He reiterated that the montage aimed to showcase national unity, economic growth, and future development, rather than religious or racial themes.
Expressing regret over the controversy, King Sing criticized certain parties for manipulating the issue along religious and racial lines, turning it into a source of division. -MalayaDailyToday
