Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi took aim at two PAS figures who attempted to defend cabinet minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali who triggered a public outcry over his quarantine gaffe.
Khairuddin was fined RM1,000 for breaching home quarantine requirements after returning from abroad. Critics have accused the government of double standard because he was not brought to court unlike others who committed the same offence.
One target of Puad's criticism was Johor PAS deputy head Mohd Mazri Yahya who reacted positively to Khairuddin for pledging to donate four months of his wages to Putrajaya's Covid-19 fund as penance.
In a statement today, the Umno man said if Khairuddin's pledge was accepted, it could set a bad precedent.
"According to (Mazri), this never happened before. A minister had surrendered his pay for making a mistake.
"However, what happens if an officer in Khairuddin's ministry seeks a pay cut to avoid disciplinary action?" he asked.
Puad also took issue with PAS central committee member Nik Abduh Nik Aziz, who said Khairuddin was facing a test from God and should accept it as a matter of faith.
To this, he said, Khairuddin should also accept a test from the courts as a matter of faith.
"If that is the case, they should be open to Khairuddin being charged in court.
"If there is a heavy penalty, Khairuddin will be disqualified as an MP and minister. He can contest in the next general election," said Puad.
To be disqualified as an MP, one has to be fined at least RM2,000 by the courts.
A precedent was set on Aug 14 when a woman, 72, was handed a six-month jail term and a RM8,000 fine for breaching quarantine.
Khairuddin (photo) - the minister of plantation industries and commodities - had returned from Turkey with his family on July 7.
He turned up at Parliament on July 13 for a crucial vote.
After he was revealed to have breached quarantine, Khairuddin attempted to deflect criticisms by pointing out that he tested negative for Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Puad said Khairuddin's supporters should not be in denial and be overly sensitive to criticisms.
"Some of his supporters cannot accept criticism. As usual, they use words such as 'bodoh' (stupid) and 'tali barut DAP' (DAP's lackeys).
"Please do not be silly (and think that) criticism is an attempt to divide us, while (thinking that) wrongdoings do not affect the image of the Muslim community," he added. - Mkini
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