Adib Shaharuddin, who is an executive committee member of the wing, said the video clearly neglected the country’s Muslim majority by focussing solely on places of worship like churches and temples.
“Bersatu Youth demands the ministry withdraw the promotional video and produce a new, more balanced version that includes elements such as mosques and Islamic architectural beauty,” he said in a statement.
The 41-second video showed multiple tourist attractions, including Central Market in Kuala Lumpur, the Sky Bridge in Langkawi, Batu Caves in Selangor, Christ Church in Melaka, and several cultural performances.
Adib said the video was yet another example of the ministry’s carelessness and lack of awareness regarding the sensitivities of Muslims.
“Failing to highlight mosques as part of the nation’s tourism treasures is not just an insult to Islamic heritage, but also reflects a tourism promotion policy that is exclusive and does not represent the true diversity of Malaysian society,” he added.
Adib also urged the ministry to issue a public apology to Muslims for failing to respect their sensitivities and to review its tourism promotion policy to make it more inclusive and representative of all communities in Malaysia, including Muslims.
“Failing to address this matter seriously will have a negative impact on the ministry’s reputation and the country’s image on the global stage,” he said.
PAS Youth information chief Nadzir Helmi had also criticised the video, saying it failed to highlight the beauty and uniqueness of Malaysia’s mosques which served as symbols of the federal religion.
“PAS Youth questions whether the absence of mosques in the montage is a result of an unintentional mistake or if it is, in fact, a deliberate act driven by a certain agenda,” he said in a statement.
Nadzir urged the ministry to provide an explanation and take immediate action on the matter.
Last year, a teaser video for the George Town Festival 2024 received flak from several NGOs and politicians for only promoting Indian and Chinese culture.
The organisers of the festival later apologised, saying that they tried their best to ensure inclusive, comprehensive and balanced representation. They also said the festival would feature eight programmes by Malay representatives.