Last week, during a Kedah legislative assembly sitting, Sanusi said Tiong looked like a “pot-bellied deity”.

He accused Tiong of not doing enough to promote Kedah’s tourism when accompanying Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at a meeting with Thai prime minister Srettha Thavisin in Sadao, Thailand, last month.

“If he wants more tourists to come to his state, what’s important is for him to watch his language. Otherwise, he will only make the situation worse and that will not benefit him,” Tiong told reporters here today.

Following Sanusi’s remarks, Sarawak tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah insisted that he apologise to Tiong.

However, Tiong brushed off Sanusi’s jibe, saying it was all part and parcel of politics.

At the tourism, arts and culture ministry earlier today, Tiong met Melaka chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh on the selection of the state to host World Tourism Day in 2025 and a global conference in conjunction with the celebration.

Tiong said these events will run for three days from Sept 27, 2025.

He said Melaka’s status as a heritage city was the main factor for it being selected as the host for the events by the World Tourism Organisation.