PETALING JAYA, Petronas president and group CEO Tengku Muhammad Taufik Aziz has issued an apology for joining a champagne celebration following Mercedes-AMG’s victory at the recent Formula One Singapore Grand Prix.
In a statement, Tengku Taufik said the win was a significant milestone in Petronas’s long-standing partnership with Mercedes-AMG, and he felt honoured to receive the Winning Constructor Trophy on the team’s behalf.
He acknowledged, however, that his “spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment celebration” may have been inappropriate. “While I did not consume any alcohol, as a Muslim I should have been more mindful of the sensitivities around participating in such celebrations. I apologise for any unintended offence and take full responsibility for my actions,” he added.
The apology comes after criticism, including from PAS, over his participation in the champagne shower. Tengku Taufik was invited to the podium following Mercedes-AMG driver George Russell’s race victory.
The incident follows a separate controversy involving the Tourism Ministry, where minister Tiong King Sing received a warning from the prime minister over the serving of alcohol at a Tourism Malaysia Global Travel Meet dinner.
