Amid video outrage, questions raised over choice of sun bear as Visit Malaysia mascot

The controversy surrounding a promotional video for Visit Malaysia Year 2026 -  which caused outrage for leaving out Islamic elements in showcasing the country's diversity - has barely subsided when questions are now being raised about the use of a sun bear in the official logo for the government's tourism campaign.

Many on social media criticised the choice of the animal as it was never associated with Malaysia's national identity.

Some also poked fun at the animal's appearance in the logo, saying it looked more like a panda than a sun bear and asking if it was aimed at attracting tourists from China – a goal previously stated by tourism minister Tiong King Sing.

They asked why the Malayan tiger or orangutan, animals more commonly associated with Malaysia, were not used instead.

"The sun bear is a very rare species," Izam Abd Rahman wrote on Facebook.

"If tourists wanted to see them, they would have to visit the zoo but even our zoos might not have them."

"Why a bear?" asked Aameir Nien. "We are all familiar with the tiger, but which country has this bear as its mascot?"

Those who defended the choice of the sun bear said the animal could be found in Borneo, and that Malaysia had a responsibility to preserve it as it was an endangered species.

Former Tourism Malaysia chairman Wee Choo Keong however said that the sun bear was not a common species even in Borneo.

He said it was more associated with countries like Vietnam and Laos, and that it was not a good choice for a national tourism icon.

"We previously used the hornbill and orangutan to showcase the rich biodiversity of Malaysia's tropical forests," Wee, who led Tourism Malaysia from 2015 to 2017, told MalaysiaNow.

Not only were animals such as bears more synonymous with China, which is famous for its pandas, their use as mascots would only restrict the tourism market Malaysia was trying to capture, he said.

"Those who are interested in wildlife and endangered species will go to countries that are known for such things.

"In Malaysia, wildlife isn't a big attraction," he said, adding that the hundreds of millions given to promote tourism should be used as well as possible.

"Efforts related to endangered species should be left to the relevant bodies."