Timah Whiskey: UPKO calls on six Borneo ministers to speak up against name change

3 Nov 2021

By Nur Syafiqah Abdullah

KOTA KINABALU: President of the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau has called on federal ministers from Borneo to speak in one voice in putting an end to the nasty populist campaign to force Timah Whiskey to change its name and image.

The ministers he was referring to are Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs), Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries), Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi (Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs), Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (Works), Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (Parliament and Law) and Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (Tourism).

Madius said the incessant attacks on the Timah Whiskey is a symptom of what is wrong with Malayan politics and must not be shared by Borneo politicians.

“The stake on Timah Whiskey is not just the brand name of a product, but sanity in our political, social and economic life.

“It is senseless, and dangerous, to claim that anything some Malaysian Muslims may find familiar, must be exclusive for their usage, and that non-Muslims cannot use them whenever some Muslims claim to be offended,” he said in a statement today.

“Surrendering on Timah Whiskey will not put an end to the insecurities of those who insist to feel insecure. We have had bans on the words Allah (by non-Muslims), root beer and hot dog, where would we end? Do we let the most insecure to set the standard in the name of sensitives and harmony and dictate what we may eat, drink, think and speak?”

According to Madius, going all-out against drinking, to condemn not just alcoholism but any consumption of alcohol even in the name of public health or consumerism is offending Borneo sensitivities.

“Sabah and Sarawak are part of Nusantara which has a real tradition of diversity and accommodation, and we have no appetite for the orthodoxy set by some Malayan bigots.

“Lest Malayan-centrists forget, we natives of Borneo are keenly observing how our cousins are respected in Kalimantan, where Indonesia’s new capital will be. We oppose to Malayan domination, not only in resource exploitation, but also in cultural suppression.

“The anti-Timah campaign is invoked, not by the name of ‘Timah’ or the beards and skull cap of Captain Speedy, but by the whiskey’s winning of successive awards in international competition.

“For some Malayan bigots, since Malaysia is a Muslim-majority nation, then Malaysians cannot win any award for activities unaccepted by their world view. And such activities even include gymnastic sport that Farah Ann Abdul Hadi was showered with condemnations for her ‘revealing’ outfit, instead of congratulations for her medals,” he explained.

Madius further elaborated that ff the intra-Malay one-upmanship competition continues suppressing common sense and progress in Malaysia, all Borneo parties and politicians regardless of faith and affiliations must collaborate strategically to be the voice of reason and harmony in Malaysia.

The futures and freedom of the next generation must not be sacrificed, he added.

The MP for Tuaran also reminded Borneo Malaysians to not be deceived by propaganda of Borneo Exceptionalism and Isolationism.

“As long as Sabah and Sarawak remain a part of Malaysia, and our development lags behind Malaya, many of our children and grandchildren will study, work and eventually settle in Malaya. In other words, Borneo children in Malaya will suffer if nonsenses and insecurities reign supreme.

“Meanwhile, bigots with an imperialist mindset will not leave even our regions alone as ‘eyesores’ in their pursuit of purity. For them, Malaysian is but the expansion of Tanah Melayu.

“If the six Borneo ministers can assert reason on the Cabinet’s decision on Timah, this will send a clear message to Malayan politicians on both sides of the divide, that Sabahans and Sarawakians are not blind followers in their dangerous game of obsessions. We will not pour in fuel if they want to set fire on Malaysia as a multicultural union.

“As Malaysian politics gets more fluid and intra-Malay competition more dangerous, all Borneo-based parties including the Borneo chapters of federation-wide parties must forge some common grounds on what we must defend together while we compete between us to bring the best for our regions and Malaysia. We must beat insanity and imperialism with intelligence and imagination.”