DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has called for the resignation of Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Zahidi Zainul Abidin for what he calls an ethical violation over the latter's treatment of Sabah student Veveonah Mosibin.
Saying that Zahidi has tarnished the dignity of others, Guan Eng tore into him, saying that he had "repeatedly provided false information and liked to blame others for covering up for his own failures."
"He often advises others not to spread fake news with the phrase 'not sure, do not share' but he himself violated the principle because he had shared false news related to Veveonah," he said.
The Bagan MP also slammed Zahidi for accusing DAP of playing up the issue which began when the deputy minister criticised Veveonah in a speech in the Dewan Negara.
Zahidi has since apologised over the issue, saying he was not given the correct information.
The controversy surfaced when Veveonah had posted a video in June showing herself up in a treetop to get better internet coverage as she was studying for her exams.
Zahidi then accused her of lying about her exam schedule, only to apologise later but not before passing the buck to deputy finance minister I Abdul Rahim Bakri for providing the wrong information.
The deputy minister also blamed DAP for politicising the matter, while Abdul Rahim reaffirmed in a post on his Facebook page that claimed Veveonah was lying. After receiving a lot of brickbats from internet users, Abdul Rahim deleted that Facebook post.
Both men were also repeatedly blasted for their conduct by members of the opposition. Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh called their actions "cyberbullying" and Sepangar MP Azis Jamman said they had chosen to bully Veveonah and assassinate the character of a young girl who is trying to make lives better.
Guan Eng accused Zahidi of trying to avoid taking responsibility for his actions.
"After getting criticism from the public, he blamed DAP, Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, and Hannah Yeoh for politicising this issue.
"DAP has never met Veveonah and only commented after Zahidi attacked the student in a Dewan Negara speech."
Referring to a tweet by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Guan Eng said that now the cabinet itself has said Zahidi was inappropriate and incorrect in his handling of the issue.
"The fact is Zahidi cannot blame anyone now because the action is like spitting into the sky - it will hit his own face."
Guan Eng also chided Zahidi over an initial remark on Tuesday that the government plans to impose an extra charge on online purchases above RM200 which was followed by his ministry clarifying that no such proposal has been discussed.
In a one-sentence statement, the ministry said:
"Referring to the statement made on Sept 8, 2020, in Kelantan, the Communications and Multimedia Ministry (KKMM) wishes to clarify there has yet to be discussion to impose service charges on e-commerce platform users amounting to 20 sen for purchases below RM1,000, and an additional 20 sen for every subsequent RM1,000."
"With KKMM's statement, does this mean that Zahidi made a false statement?" asked Guan Eng.
"Again, he has not taken his own advice - 'not sure, do not share'. As Zahidi has lost public credibility, it is necessary for someone more competent and capable to replace him as deputy minister," he added.
Khairy: An embarrassing episode for govt
Today in Sabah, Khairy told Channel News Asia that the remarks over Veveonah were extremely uncalled for, careless, and silly and that they had resulted in an embarrassing episode for the government.
"Not only did the deputy ministers concerned make a silly mistake but they doubled down on their stupidness," he said.
Khairy suggested that the government engaged Veveonah without fanfare to try and see if there were any initiatives on which they could work with her.
This is shambolic governance
Meanwhile Guan Eng's father, Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang said the episode was a glimpse into the shambolic governance of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's administration.
"There is no understanding of the collective Cabinet responsibility, and no minister dares to exercise discipline over his deputy minister."
Kit Siang also said that the cabinet should do more than take note of the deputy ministers' failures.
"No punitive action but just 'take note'? What a pathetic Cabinet!" he said in a statement today, adding that the real issue is internet access and other basic facilities specifically in the interior.
Kit Siang, in a jibe at Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin who had said the "PN" of Perikatan Nasional also stands for "Penyelamat Negara".
"I do not think PN Ministers and leaders would agree, as they know privately that 'PN' stands for 'Pengkhianat Negara'," he said, in reference to the non-electoral toppling of the previous Pakatan Harapan administration.
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