The recent Global Travel Meet 2025 (GTM 2025) gala dinner, which featured the Visit Malaysia 2026 banner, is receiving quite a lot of backlash.
Initially, many were outraged upon discovering that alcoholic beverages were served at the event, apparently causing many Muslim guests to leave early. Now, it appears that the languages used at the event are also under scrutiny.
Malaysian preacher claims the controversial dinner was conducted in English and Chinese
Malaysian Preacher, Firdaus Wong, took to his Instagram page to showcase a message, allegedly sent to him by someone who was at the event, calling out the event for using English and Chinese as the main languages when addressing guests, despite there being guests from places like the Middle East.
Firdaus Wong wrote, “English and Chinese languages at the Global Travel Meet gala dinner? Is this true?”
“The circular says that ‘presentations should entirely be in Bahasa Melayu and translated into English’. I ask that the Tourism Ministry confirm this claim.”
The message he received read, “During the dinner event, it was held in 2 languages. English and Chinese! This is very unprofessional as the guests in attendance were not just from China but also from other non-English speaking countries like Vietnam, Thailand, India, the Middle East and more.”
Firdaus Wong says the event should be held in Bahasa Melayu and translated into English as per Resolution PO.1.1.1
Firdaus Wong also included a policy, outlined in the Human Resources Service Circular (MyPPSM), particularly Resolution PO.1.1.1: Empowerment of the Use of National Languages in Public Services.
The policy states that official events held by government agencies within Malaysia and abroad must be held in Bahasa Melayu and translated into English.
It is important to note that this is a claim that has yet to be confirmed by the relevant authorities, which have yet to issue any statements on the matter as of the time of writing.
What do you think about the whole situation? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.
