Sarawak DAP Youth secretary George Lam said he was disappointed with Anwar’s response to the issue, accusing the Pakatan Harapan chairman of giving in to the opposition’s narrative.

He said Anwar should have taken a more moderate and balanced stand on the matter, expressing concern about the direction of the unity government.

“Such a response has inevitably disappointed many non-Muslim Malaysians and raised doubts about the unity government’s future policy direction,” he said in a statement.

Lam urged Anwar to withstand pressure from “extreme” parties and to prioritise economic growth and bolstering the nation’s international reputation.

He also said the prime minister should recognise and back Tiong’s efforts to prepare for the Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2026 campaign.

“It would be unwise and inconsistent with the principles of a moderate and inclusive government to make religiously charged remarks just to appease a small group of extremists.

“As we promote Malaysia’s multicultural spirit and strengthen global engagement, we must not allow extremist narratives to dictate our national agenda. Malaysia must proudly present itself as a moderate, open, and diverse nation united in ensuring the success of VMY 2026,” Lam added.

The issue had sparked calls for Tiong to step down as minister, with the Gabungan Parti Sarawak leader accused of disrespecting Muslims and flouting government guidelines.

Yesterday, Anwar said the government’s policy was clear that alcohol was not permitted at official government functions.

Although Tiong had said that the serving of alcohol only occurred after the official event ended, the prime minister maintained that it was inappropriate.

In response to Anwar’s rebuke, the tourism, arts and culture ministry vowed to ensure that its programmes followed established guidelines and ethical standards, saying it regretted the controversy caused by the gala dinner event.