KUALA LUMPUR – Social media users have come to the defence of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad after the wife of a Perikatan Nasional MP reprimanded him for bringing his children to the Hari Raya open house at Istana Negara yesterday.
An Instagram user with the name Datin Norlin Shamsul Bahri, who is the wife of former foreign minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, had chided Nik Nazmi for breaching palace protocol by bringing his children along.
“(You) brought your kids to Istana Negara for an official function. Don’t you know protocol, Mr Minister?” the account under Norlin’s name commented in reply to Nik Nazmi’s photo of him and his children posing with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the open house.
Nik Nazmi replied to Norlin, explaining that the official invitation was extended to his wife, children, and even grandchildren.
“... But as I do not have any grandchildren, I brought my wife and kids instead,” said Nik Nazmi.
Norlin dug in when PKR Youth leader Prasanth Kumar Brakasam suggested she was being touchy because her husband, Saifuddin, was no longer a minister.
“Annoyed for what?... is there a protocol to bring your children to Istana (Negara)?” she asked.
She also replied to Nik Nazmi, “Wah... minister makes his own protocol”.
When an Instagram user named Dr Kim said “Datin is envious”, Norlin replied: “X (not) about envy but in Islam if we go to an event without being invited, the food is ‘haram’… pity the children”.
To this, Norlin got a few more reprimands from other Instagram users, with some urging her to stop doubling down, while others asked if she was feeling bitter at not being invited to the palace’s open house now that Saifuddin was with the opposition.
Others also told her to check the Istana Negara social media page, where photos of families with children and grandchildren of various guests were shared.
“The Minister has even explained yet you are still playing ignorant. Even foreign dignitaries and the KSN (Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali) brought their kids and grandchildren, with their pictures even posted on Istana Negara’s official Instagram,” said Instagram user @abdulmuizaminudin.
Others in the unity government cabinet, such as Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil and Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli, had also posted photos on social media of their family members, including children, attending the palace’s open house.
Saifuddin, who is Indera Mahkota MP, previously served as foreign minister in Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration.
Istana Negara on Instagram, meanwhile, stated that the open house hosted by the king welcomed the family members of VIP guests and ministers.
– The Vibes, April 23, 2023
