Politicising Starbucks Partnership Won T Help Tourism Tiong

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PARLIAMENT | Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing has lashed out at those fixated on the ministry’s partnership with Starbucks, accusing detractors of politicising the matter at the expense of tourism efforts.
Addressing the Dewan Rakyat today, an apparently exasperated Tiong highlighted that the ministry has always been open to collaborations with any companies as part of promotional activities, especially for the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
The minister pointed out that while the ministry has also collaborated with other brands besides Starbucks, such products do not seem to garner positive reactions from those quick to criticise supposed slights.
“We’re not only working with Starbucks. I invite MPs to come to my ministry any time (and) I can show you the list (of collaborations),” the minister said in his winding-up speech for Budget 2026.
“We also have collaborations with (a brand selling) Danish butter cookies, but no one mentions that. There’s even a halal perfume brand owned by Muslims, but no one brings that up either,” he lamented while holding up the mentioned products.
The minister stressed that “politicising” works with Starbucks will bring no benefits to the nation, indicating that the ministry will not move to cancel its partnership with the American company despite previous backlash.
The strategic cooperation between the ministry and Starbucks, launched earlier this month in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, quickly drew brickbats from certain quarters.
Those outraged over the government’s choice of brand partner were quick to remind Tiong of an ongoing boycott against the brand due to its perceived ties with Israel amid the Gaza conflict.
The uproar over Starbucks’ involvement in the national tourism campaign coincided with controversy over alcohol being served at a tourism industry gala dinner Tiong attended. - Mkini

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