Puncak Borneo Member of Parliament Willie Mongin has spoken out against negative stereotypes surrounding pork consumption, urging Malaysians to respect one another’s cultural and dietary differences.
Speaking during a parliamentary session on Jan 21, Willie shared the perspective of the Dayak community and expressed disappointment over remarks that label pork as “dirty and rotten.” He said his community had never insulted the food choices of others but was often targeted simply for consuming pork.
Willie pointed out that members of his community, despite eating pork, were not involved in corruption, drug abuse or immoral behaviour, countering claims that associate dietary habits with character.
“We who eat pork rarely take bribes, rarely do drugs and do not engage in immoral acts, yet we are accused of being uncivilised simply because of what we eat,” he said, calling on Malaysians to respect personal choices.
To illustrate his point, Willie compared the criticism of pork to other foods with strong smells, noting that he had never insulted such dishes despite personal opinions.
He made the remarks during the debate on the motion of thanks for the royal address by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.
Willie also highlighted how communities in neighbouring countries such as Singapore, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand have united to focus on national development, urging Malaysians to move past divisive attitudes and work together for the country’s progress.
