Guan Eng sets record straight on photos with wall decorations in office

Ragananthini Vethasalam Ragananthini Vethasalam Updated 4 years ago · Published on 27 Jun 2019 3:00PM · 5 Comments

One of the photos published on Lim Guan Eng's Twitter post on June 25, during Microsoft Corp president Andrea Della Mattea's official visit to his office. – Twitter pic, June 27, 2019.

FINANCE Minister Lim Guan Eng has set the record straight on a wall hanging with Chinese characters photographed in his office, which drew the ire of certain social media users and the support of others.

The photos in question are those of him receiving Microsoft Corp president Andrea Della Mattea during her official visit featuring a wall hanging with Chinese characters in the backdrop.

Lim said on the sidelines of the 2020 Budget Consultation that the photos were taken during Chinese New Year.

He also questioned why certain quarters only chose to highlight the wall hangings and not the Quran verses in his office.

“Why only publicise this when there are Al-Quran verses in my office as well?

“This was done during the Chinese New Year period,” he said, referring to when the decorative piece was put up.

“Don’t fall for the racist and extremist rhetoric of quarters which support the opposition,” he told the reporter who asked the question. 

The photos, which were featured in Lim’s tweet dated June 25, raised questions among social media users.

“Why is there a red bunting with Chinese characters? Is it appropriate for the finance minister’s office to do so? Why was the Malaysian flag not there?” tweeted InderaPutera.

Another Twitter user known as Rey-Yan tweeted in response to the photos that Malaysia is a Muslim country and questioned Lim’s loyalty towards the country.

“This is muslim country and bahasa melayu kebangsaan Negara (Bahasa Melayu is the National language)..why do u put Cantonese words banner??..where is ur loyalty and contoh kesetiaan kepada raja dan negara (your loyalty towards the king and the country)???? Very much shame and voting on you! This wont happens like singapore!! Bumiputra will fight on this!!! Remember!!”

However, there were others who came to Lim’s support.

“Don’t you remember the Arabic scripture he placed behind his working desk,” Twitter user long-a-ling replied to Rey-Yan’s tweet.

Meanwhile, Nor Adzlan told the finance minister to ignore racist comments.

“YB your room is beautiful. Increased Ong (prosperity) will help reduce the debt.As a Smart malay, we respect the culture of the Malaysian Chinese. Ignore Racist comments. That is your office and you have the right to decorate it.” – June 27, 2019. – June 27, 2019.

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Comments

  • So what how the office is decorated provided U do your work with HONESTY HIGH INTEGRITY n HELP ALL THE NEEDY . BN UMNO PAS Talking abt others look at yourself first how DIRTY U ARE INSIDE n OUTSIDE. Shame on U.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • The Malays race feel so proud about the Bahasa Melayu and the Bangsa dan Agama BUT they can outright disarded their own culture and bahasa just to ape the Arab Pak Unta. wht a hypocrites.

    Posted 4 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Halo, there are bigger things around.
    And this is an issue??

    Posted 4 years ago by Lan Lan · Reply

  • This melayu Are Brainless fools Bodohs they have no where to go even in Malaysia the best for them is the fastest they die (die faster surely) the better for Malaysian in Malaysia

    Posted 4 years ago by Danial Abdullah · Reply

  • Such pettiness. To even make comments about the wall hangings shows how small-minded certain people can be. Dont see why Guan Eng has to even dignify such nonsense.

    Posted 4 years ago by Sunita petrus · Reply