KUALA LUMPUR – An academician has criticised Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Fuziah Salleh for wasting the police’s time by calling for investigations into the re-circulation of her video on prices of goods.
The video, which was recently shared on social media by certain pages after originally being uploaded in July, garnered the ire of netizens due to how Fuziah asserted that RM200 is enough to purchase household groceries.
In a Facebook post today, Institute for Development Studies Sabah chief executive officer Datuk Ramzah Dambul said that instead of lodging a police report, Fuziah should direct her efforts to coming up with strategies to tackle the rising cost of living.
“(Fuziah’s statement) offended the people, so they voiced their displeasure. Is this not a norm in a democratic country?” he questioned.
“The report inconveniences the police and is a waste of resources as authorities who should be overseeing national security now have to do menial tasks and open an investigation paper to probe a crime that does not exist.
“As deputy minister, (Fuziah) should focus on price control strategies and better enforcement activities. These initiatives should then be communicated to the media (to) convince the people that the government regards their grievances seriously,” he added.
Ramzah also said that whether the video was recorded “three months or 30 years ago”, Fuziah’s comments were still considered “rude and inappropriate” as she apparently mocked the people’s plight.
“You (Fuziah) are a deputy minister, not an upcoming influencer. Don’t try to dismiss the sentiments and narratives of the people by pretending to go to the ground.
“Stay away from simplistic statements. People’s daily needs are more complex than just two packs of noodles or a pack of rice,” he said.
In the video, the PKR leader was seen purchasing several basic necessities, such as cooking oil, rice, biscuits, canned sardines, wheat flour, onions, and potatoes, amounting to RM 136.30.
“Who said RM200 is not enough (and that) RM500 is needed? Don’t say false things, I have seen and judged (prices of goods) for myself,” Fuziah said in the video.
After the video recently made its rounds on social media again, Fuziah claimed that there are “political masterminds” behind the video’s republishing – leading to her aide lodging a police report on the matter at the Kuantan District Police Headquarters yesterday. – September 22, 2023.
