Newly formed political party, Parti Hati Rakyat Malaysia (Hati), is calling for the government to disallow beef from being served at all official events in Malaysia, in order to maintain the religious sensitivities of Buddhist and Hindu community members.
Hati President, Chan Tse Yuen, took to his Facebook page to make the suggestion following the controversial incident in which alcoholic beverages were allegedly served at the Global Travel Meet 2025 (GTM 2025) gala dinner, apparently organised by a government agency.
A political party wants the government to stop serving beef at official events in Malaysia
He wrote, “Hati urges the Cabinet to order that beef be prohibited from all official banquets at all levels in Malaysia, out of respect for the religious taboos of Hindus and Buddhists, in order to demonstrate a Malaysia characterised by true religious respect and equality.”
“Hati makes this recommendation in response to the recent ‘storm in a glass’ incident surrounding the ‘Global Travel Meet Dinner’ hosted by the Malaysian tourism industry, which was subsequently escalated by UMNO President Zahid Hamidi, who threatened to bring this incident to the Cabinet.”
He also added that the incident of alcoholic beverages being served at the dinner caused Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing to receive a stern warning from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“Beef is a taboo”
Chan went on to point out the strictness in the prohibition of alcohol and pork in regards to the Malay community and believes that non-Muslims’ religious sensitivities should be held to similar standards.
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“It is well known that alcohol is prohibited in Islam; the Malay community is particularly sensitive and persistent about this. Non-Muslims in Malaysia undoubtedly hold this in high regard and respect. As Islam is enshrined in the Constitution as the sacred state religion, pork and non-Muslim foods are not served at official banquets in Malaysia,”
“Malaysia is a multi-racial and multi-religious country, encompassing both Hindus and Buddhists, particularly those who worship Guanyin. Beef is taboo for them due to their religious beliefs,”
“However, to date, the world has witnessed a government that appears to pay no attention to the religious taboos and sensitivities of Hindus and Buddhists, resulting in beef being served at all official banquets.”
He ended his post by emphasising Hati’s call to have the government disallow beef from being served at all official events to “truly achieve the highest level of religious ‘mutual’ respect”.
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