KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 ― Ministers who publicise private products related to their portfolios are not doing so for their own benefit, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail explained today.

Commenting about the controversy around Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and a local soft drink brand, she added that ministers regularly try to bring attention to products and services that fall under their ministries’ purview.

“Promotion for such products are not done for private (interests),” she said when explaining that this was to support local products.

Dr Wan Azizah was speaking to the press at the opening of the Tasputra Malaysian Muslim Welfare Organisation (Perkim) Day Care and Training Centre for special needs children here today.

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Commenting on the public brickbats between Hausboom founder Azri Zahier Azmi and Syed Saddiq, Dr Wan Azizah said that the Muar MP had explained he was merely trying to help promote products made by local youth.

She also said that she often bring local products abroad as means to promote the country.

“When I go abroad, I will bring Malaysian handicraft items as means to promote the country as a whole,” she said.

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On Tuesday, Azri had posted on his Facebook page that he had been cheated by the Muar MP, after being promised that his business profile would be read to Cabinet ministers during their meeting, as well as to be promoted on Syed Saddiq’s Instagram profile.

However, Azri claimed that his products were only placed on the Cabinet meeting table, but his business profile was not read and the product was not posted and promoted on Syed Saddiq’s Instagram as promised.

Yesterday, Syed Saddiq fired back on social media and disclosed that he not only raised the topic of the drink in a Cabinet meeting but also spoke to tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan about possibly carrying the product in the 7-11 convenience stores.

Tan’s son, Morvin Tan, confirmed the meeting and topics discussed, before calling the criticism of Syed Saddiq unfair.

Although Azri had since apologise to Syed Saddiq for his harsh comments but reminded the 26-year-old Cabinet Minister that he should not give out empty promises.