KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — Kedah Umno Youth exco member Dr Mohd Rizal Abdul Rahman said today he does not understand the fuss online over minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan’s suggestion that Malaysians wake up earlier to avoid traffic and tolled roads.
According to Dr Mohd Rizal, a medical doctor, he often cycles to work and does not find the activity to be a chore as it has only helped improve his health.
“To be fair, what’s up with going to work early? I cycle to work every after Subuh & that cost me nothing but a healthier day. @mpkotabelud.
“People can also try to wake up early and maximize the usage of public transports. Lots of walking is good for heart. @mpkotabelud,” he posted on Twitter, tagging Abdul Rahman, who is also Kota Belud MP.
The Barisan Nasional Youth Volunteer’s (BNYV) Kedah coordinator also responded to several tweets from followers who replied to his postings.
To one user who pointed out that cycling to work would take at least an hour and a half and that this meant she would have to rise as early as 5am to clock in at 7am, Dr Mohd Rizal said, “I’m just suggesting. Such campaign going on all over the world. I do 17km & you’ll be surprise how fresh you’ll get.”
“My point is we all have our choices. Excuses will never bring us anywhere. Malaysia developing at a good rate compare to others,” he continued later, in another tweet.
One user, @afiq1102, then told the Umno leader that it takes him at least four hours to get to his work place in Cheras with public transport.
To this, Dr Mohd Rizal advised the user to think about his most economical choice.
“Logic advise: U should do ur calculation for what’s convenience, best economically. Move nearer or bear travel cost,” he said.
Over the past few hours, Internet users have been roasting Abdul Rahman online for suggesting that motorists in the Klang Valley wake up earlier to plan their daily journeys better and avoid tolled roads.
The hashtag MPKotaBeludAdvice even began trending on Twitter shortly after the minister’s remarks were published on several news sites.
Abdul Rahman, who is housing and local government minister, shrugged off the online criticisms good-naturedly, however, tweeting: “Tak apa. No hal” (Doesn’t matter. Not a big deal).
He also pointed out that the government has spent billions of ringgit, especially on public transport, when a Twitter user said “smarter urban design, active and public transport” were the solutions, not more tolled roads or waking up early.
“I don’t like toll roads. Should not build them. Should plough all our resources in making public transport seamlessly efficient,” Abdul Rahman tweeted, in response to Twitter user @tengkusani who said the minister was probably joking.
Two weeks ago, toll rates were increased between 10 sen and RM3 at 18 highways within the Klang Valley.
Putrajaya and other public transportation authorities have also announced hikes in fees for all intercity rail services, a key means of transportation for the city’s middle and low-income earners.
