Hulu Langat rep cries slander, denies holidaying during floods

KUALA LUMPUR – Hulu Langat MP Datuk Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus cried slander as he faced fierce criticism accusing him of holidaying during one of the worst floods in his constituency.

Photographs of him in a snowy area in Iran have made their rounds on social media. 

According to Hasanuddin’s special officer Abu Bakar Jalal, the lawmaker is keeping tabs on his constituents who have been affected by the floods, and even tried to obtain a flight home as soon as possible. 

Abu Bakar told Getaran that his boss was representing Malaysia at the 16th session of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member State Conference held on December 9 and 10. 

Also present during the visit were Besut MP Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh and Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Saari, he added. 

“His work visit to Iran was under his capacity as a member of the West Asia Parliamentary Friendship Group for the Malaysian Parliament. 

“Hasanuddin was not merely vacationing at Tochal Mountain in Iran, as he dropped by the tourist spot only after the conference had ended.”

Abu Bakar said Hasanuddin had been invited to attend the conference due to his role as a prominent activist with experience in organising international humanitarian missions. 

“When Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was prime minister in 2019, Hasanuddin was invited on a follow-up visit by the Parliament of Pakistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry. 

“Seeing as how he was also on the Mavi Marmara ship on a humanitarian mission to Gaza, the visit was meant to facilitate discussions on the various issues he had identified over the weeks.”

Abu Bakar also denied allegations that Hulu Langat public service centres were not offering aid to constituents affected by the floods. 

“This is false. Hasanuddin had ordered officers at the centres to help those in need. 

“We have been offering help since the start of the floods in Hulu Langat. Our team has responded quickly and all our officers have helped supervise the moving of victims to evacuation centres.”

Earlier, Hasanuddin was criticised by netizens when a photo of him at Tochal Mountain, Iran, went viral on social media. – The Vibes, December 23, 2021