In Malaysia, a new debate has started about food served at official government events. A political leader named Chan Tse Yuen, who leads a new opposition party called Parti Hati Rakyat Malaysia (Hati), has suggested banning the serving of beef at such events. He says this should be done to respect the religious beliefs of Hindus and some Buddhists, as many of them do not eat beef.

Chan pointed out that Malaysia already avoids serving pork and alcohol at official events to respect Muslim traditions, since the country has a Muslim majority. So he argued that the same respect should be shown to other religions too. He said this would show “true religious equality and fairness.”

This proposal came after a recent controversy. At a government-hosted tourism dinner for the Global Travel Meet 2025, alcohol was served, which caused public outrage. Even the Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, scolded the tourism minister responsible for allowing it. Conservative Muslim groups were also angry and threatened to escalate the issue.

This situation sparked discussions about double standards. Some people, like political commentator Prof James Chin, said it is unfair to enforce Islamic dietary rules while ignoring the beliefs of non-Muslims. He said that if alcohol is banned for Muslims, then beef should also be banned to respect Hindus.

Reactions to the proposal have been mixed, some Hindu and Buddhist groups support it, calling it a long-overdue gesture of respect. Others worry it could go too far, with some people joking online that soon “everything will be banned, just serve water!”

This debate shows how difficult it is for Malaysia to balance traditions of its Muslim majority with the rights of other communities. Supporters of the ban say it's about fairness and mutual respect. Critics say it might create more division and complicate food choices.

The government has not made any decision yet. But if the ban is approved, it would be a major step in how Malaysia handles religion, culture, and food at official events.