KUALA LUMPUR – Having been on the receiving end of public berating and reproval for his decision to travel to France amid the ongoing health crisis, Umno’s Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz turned the table today, taking aim at his critics.
The Padang Rengas MP slammed those who accused him of using public funds to fly abroad, pointing out that this was not the case as he was no longer part of the cabinet and was not involved in any swindling of public money.
“You voted (for) the failed Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in the 14th general election. Since 2018, I was no longer a minister, I was not charged in the courts for any acts of corruption and abuse of power.
“How is it that I can use the rakyat’s money to spend in France? Tell me,” he posted in a couple of Instagram stories uploaded via his wife Datin Seri Haflin Saiful Azhar’s page. Nazri does not own any social media accounts.
While he is no longer a member of the cabinet, MPs salaries and allowances, which amounts to tens of thousands of ringgit a month, are still paid from public funds.
Nazri, who recently re-pledged his allegiance to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, also schooled his detractors who accused him of abandoning his constituency, as the country struggles to get Covid-19 under control.
The senior politician, who is a six term parliamentarian, noted that he has contested in the same seat since his political debut in 1995 and won every election since, with a comfortable majority.
“It is a rural seat, 80% of voters are Malays, Muslims and village folks. So, don’t teach me how to serve and work for my rakyat in Padang Rengas.
“It is not for you, and I don’t care,” he said.
Nazri courted public backlash last month after he said he would be leaving the country for a holiday and would only be back two weeks before Parliament reconvenes in order to quarantine himself.
He later clarified that he was travelling to France to register his youngest son who is 5 years old for school there, and maintained he had followed all necessary procedures.
Nazri’s wife, Haflin, has also been uploading photos of their stay there, with many slamming the couple’s actions as insensitive. – The Vibes, July 13, 2021
