KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 ― Datuk Ahmad Maslan said today that he has three jobs as Pontian MP, deputy minister and Umno information chief, in defence of his statement that Malaysians should have two jobs to tackle rising living costs.

Ahmad also said it was not unusual to have two jobs, providing the example of running an online business besides having a day job.

“I have three jobs: Member of Parliament, Deputy Minister, Umno information chief. There are already many in Malaysia who do #2Kerja. Working hard to find halal income,” Ahmad tweeted from his @ahmadmaslan Twitter account, using the Malay hashtag for “two jobs”.

“If you have a day job, you can run an online business at night and during weekends as long as your performance is not affected; it can increase income,” the deputy international trade and industry minister added.

He also pointed out that rural folk are used to working two jobs, saying that they farm in the morning and run a grocery shop in the evening, or tap rubber in the morning and farm in the evening, or cut grass in the morning and build houses in the evening.

“#2kerja There are rules that need to be followed for those who have fixed jobs, so follow them lah. But for those who work for themselves, there’s no issue,” said Ahmad.

Ahmad sparked a backlash when he reportedly said Saturday that it was not wrong to have two jobs in Malaysia to address the rising cost of living.

Local broadcaster Astro Awani quoted him as saying that one could work during office hours and still run an online business at the side.