YOURSAY | Wan Saiful, leave your cocoon, mix around

YOURSAY | ‘Learn other cultures and do not judge’.

Wan Saiful: Religion aside, getting 'drunk' in public wrong

TTSH: It was a lantern festival. Obviously, Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing was invited by the Chinese leaders to a private function. Drinking is a form of socialising, especially among businesspeople and office workers during weddings, parties, and other functions.

This is a worldwide activity and not just limited to Malaysia. Go out and mix around more, my friend, and not stay in your cocoon. Learn about other cultures. No need to judge others from the high moral ground.

Personally, I do not drink - not because I am pious - but because I do not like the taste. If others want to drink, what has that got to do with anyone?

At least Tiong is not a hypocrite - he does not hide under the table to drink.

He deals a lot with China. Do you expect the Chinese businesspersons there to drink tea and water? If anyone gets drunk, oh well, just give them a Panadol the next day to ease their hangover.

On the contrary, we must sympathise with Tiong. To promote tourism, he must entertain and be entertained, so do not think it is all fun. It is his liver at stake and not yours.

Just because you are not allowed to drink, it does not mean you do not permit others to drink. Just because you cannot wear shorts, you cannot force others to be covered from head to toe.

Focus on the bigger issues we are facing. Be a real politician and speak on more important current affairs and be above petty stuff.

Gerard Lourdesamy: How does Bersatu supreme council member Wan Saiful Wan Jan know that Tiong was drunk? Did God tell him?

Did you test the minister’s blood alcohol level? Just back off from interfering with the rights of others. Stop imposing your beliefs and values on others.

Tiong has every right to drink, dance, and party at a Chinese cultural event. No Muslims were present. If Tiong did not become a public nuisance, nobody can question him.

At least Tiong is honest. Unlike some who claim to be pious and virtuous but are corrupt and rotten to the core.

Koel: Is corruption okay? This is a brilliant display of the calibre and superficiality of Perikatan Nasional candidates. The country is literally on edge with various deep-seated problems and all these empty heads can do is make personal remarks about the drinking habits of MPs on the other side of the aisle.

Why are you threatened by Tiong, Wan Saiful? Or is this a deflection from the massive corruption charges against you and your bosses? Or is this a deflection from the huge Health Ministry’s losses of taxpayer monies incurred by your backdoor administration?

Are you so desperate that you must behave like some creatures by trying to pick on individuals and their personal habits? Given the huge corruption charges against you, it is safe to say you can barely afford your hypocritical smug superiority or your pretend pieties.

The basic rule of argumentation: address issues, not individuals. Faham (understand)?

MerdekaMerdekaMerdeka: It’s bizarre when Muslims loosely use the term “drunk” to describe anyone who imbibed any type of alcohol in any amount.

As Muslims, you don’t consume alcohol, and thus, will never understand what “being drunk” is or what it takes to “get there”.

The world over, people consume alcohol in public places, all the time. Are all those billions (possibly) of people immoral, Wan Saiful?

You don’t drink, so you can’t really lecture anyone on holding their drinks well enjoying their buzz or even sloshing out intentionally. You have no clue.

Plain Old Malaysian: What has religion got to do with this case? Is he drunk? Did anyone test him? Looking silly and having fun in front of friends is not a crime, not even an unacceptable behaviour.

If he did this during an official event, he could be criticised. If he did not, mind your own business. All he is saying is that he has not done anything forbidden in the eyes of his religion or the law. So, again mind your own business.

Being Forsaken: Wan Saiful, we didn’t know that you being an MP - member of Parliament - is also the acronym for moral police.

For those of us from Sabah and Sarawak, it is our freedom to drink and celebrate any occasion we are invited to participate in. If we don’t drink and drive or cause harm to anybody, that’s fine. 

The country needs a revival to progress. Please use your status to contribute good ideas or spearhead noble proposals, and not try to act or think you’re an angel above others.

BrownCheetah9736: I have watched the video. Tiong wasn’t drunk. His blood circulation may have increased resulting in him being more joyous. That’s the purpose of alcohol for the occasion.

In summary, don’t equate drinking to being drunk. Not everyone drinks to get drunk. Likewise, make the distinction between casual social gambling and excessive gambling resulting in debts.

I have never heard of anyone going bust from buying lucky numbers in gaming outlets.

By the same token, I think it’s wrong to also generalise and say that proper and “non-offensive” dressing doesn’t create serial killers or sex maniacs.

Righteousness4All: Wan Saiful, do get your knowledge, facts, and legality right in the first place. Moreover, you are not the man up there enforcing the law to comment, reprimand, and/or tell others what is right or wrong.

Generally, most Malaysians celebrate, and some get drunk with liquids while celebrating special occasions or in very happy and jovial situations but for a good purpose.

It is okay especially when they are part of a happy occasion and the VIP did not cause problems to others. This is the uniqueness of a country for all called Malaysia.

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