KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 — Datuk Ahmad Maslan should stop trying to advise Malaysians on how to cope with rising costs if the Umno deputy minister does not have constructive ideas on the subject, PKR Youth said today.
The wing’s chief, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, added that the deputy minister’s remark that it was not wrong to hold two jobs to make ends meet was essentially conceding that the government was incapable of addressing the rising costs plaguing Malaysians.
"Not only was his suggestion not constructive as a solution from our country's leaders, it also came as an insult to the people who are facing increasing pressures from the realities of life.
"If the Barisan Nasional (BN) government truly believes that holding two jobs is the solution, this proves they have failed in handling the economy," the Seri Setia assemblyman said in a statement.
Nik Nazmi also mocked Ahmad for claiming that his three posts as deputy minister, MP and Umno information chief meant he worked three jobs, saying this showed Malaysia's ministers cannot tell the difference between a job and a political post.
"We recommend for any minister, like Ahmad Maslan, to remain silent and not hurt others if they are incapable of contributing ideas or policies that really help the people," he said.
Ahmad sparked backlash when he reportedly said Saturday that it was not wrong to hold two jobs in Malaysia to address the rising cost of living.
He sought to defend himself from the criticism yesterday by saying he held three jobs, and insisted that he meant Malaysians could be entrepreneurial to earn side income.
In response, local comedian Harith Iskandar challenged the deputy minister’s categorisation of posts as jobs, saying the definition would mean the former worked six jobs when he in fact simply performed six roles.
