KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 — PAS lawmaker Dr Halimah Ali today apologised for her remarks on the government’s Menu Rahmah programme causing “cancer, autoimmune diseases and autism, among other things.”
“If any speech has been misinterpreted, I’m here putting my ten fingers together (to apologise). I will continue to champion the voice of the people, to serve as the check and balance for the Madani government,” Dr Halimah read her poetic apology statement in Parliament today.
Previously, Dr Halimah has defended her statement that “low-quality ingredients” in Menu Rahmah could cause ill effects.
She received flak from lawmakers and the public over her remarks.
Earlier Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul said that he had called DAP’s Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii and the Kapar MP to his office to reach a middle ground about the issue.
Menu Rahmah was launched on January 31 by Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub as part of the Unity Government’s short-term efforts to mitigate the inflation squeeze on low-income earners.
Around 12,000 premises are currently offering Menu Rahmah, including restaurants affiliated with the Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association, the Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association, Malaysia Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors General Association and Mydin supermarket outlets nationwide.
