DAP’s rising star Howard Lee is battling a public relations crisis after video excerpts of an interview on the state of public healthcare was widely panned as condescending and arrogant.
The barrage of criticism has forced the Ipoh Timur MP, his inner circle, and even Pakatan Harapan’s machinery, to come out in his defence.
In the first video excerpt that caught public attention yesterday, Howard (above) was asked by the medical news portal, CodeBlue, how long health workers asking for better wages and working conditions had to wait for solutions before going on strike.
He then responded by saying: “I don’t entertain emotive questions”.
After several back-and-forths along the same lines, he was then asked how long healthcare workers should wait for solutions to be implemented.
“I would like them to wait for the government to look into all the necessary measures to ensure all stakeholders are taken into account, into policy, before they strike,” he responded.
When pressed on a timeline, Lee replied: “Do I look like a minister? Do I look like I’m in the executive? Do I look like I have the power to dictate?”
Howard’s responses, mannerisms, and tone of voice, all came under scrutiny after the video was posted on Twitter, with many criticising him.
Among his critics was former Health Ministry deputy director Dr Christopher Lee.
“Gosh, he (Howard) really gave many of us a very bad first impression.
“His arrogance in being difficult to interview. His tone and body language reek of cockiness. Humility is a virtue,” Christopher tweeted, adding that Howard should learn from DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.
Howard declined to comment on Christopher’s response when contacted.
Meanwhile, Muda central committee member Ainie Haziqah Shafii also accused the former DAP Youth chief of being condescending.
“This (Howard’s response) wasn’t the tone when you’re in opposition. We didn’t think we should wait for the government to come out with something before any strike.
“Healthcare workers’ well-being is at stake, and all (you) care (about) is how the question is posted to you? This is so condescending,” she tweeted.
Several critics also drew comparisons between Howard and Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii, who in a separate interview with CodeBlue, appeared more composed and mild-mannered.
Responding to the brickbats in a tweet yesterday, Howard doubled down on his remarks in the video excerpt.
“When one fishes for a response by emotionalising and weaponising the future of healthcare workers and the welfare of their families and health of their patients; I refuse to answer.
“I've been consistent in highlighting the problems faced by healthcare workers; the manner the question is asked is the manner I respond,” he said.
Separately, an individual who claimed to be on Howard's team used the transcript of the CodeBlue interview to defend the DAP lawmaker - accusing the news portal's editor of trying to incite a response that suited their narrative.
Dissatisfaction among healthcare workers
Meanwhile, the Twitter account for Harapan’s women's wing argued that CodeBlue should have directed their questions to the Health Ministry.
“We may disagree with the tone and the manner the questions were answered, but why would a backbencher MP have to answer for what should be the job of officials in the Health Ministry?
“CodeBlue should interview (Health director-general) Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and Health Ministry officials who have been at the helm all these years,” the Harapan women’s wing tweeted.
Howard had previously raised concerns about a potential unannounced strike by healthcare workers and said he would convey their grievances to Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
He later attended a town hall between Zaliha and junior doctors where the minister pledged to address their woes.
However, dissatisfaction among public healthcare workers remains unabated.
During the Codeblue interview, when asked about his position on strikes, Howard reiterated that while everyone had a right to strike, he would not support an unannounced move by healthcare workers.
Pressed on whether he would support a strike if it’s organised in accordance with the Industrial Relations Act, he replied: “Well, I don’t have the right not to support it; it’s the law.”
Meanwhile, another video excerpt of the DAP leader’s interview with CodeBlue also courted flak for a lack of public relations skills - albeit on a smaller scale.
In the second video, Howard went on the defensive when asked if he acknowledged that there is frustration among doctors regarding their on-call rates.
“Of course. I was in the room. I’ve been talking to them. I’ve been talking to doctors for at least the last six months on a one-to-one basis and a group basis.
“I’ve seen tears rolling off their faces. I’ve been there to help them solve their problems.
“So don’t assume that I don’t know; I do know, I do know, I do know,” he said.
Howard, 40, is a first-time MP.
However, he has been the Pasir Pinji assemblyperson in Perak since 2013, and served as the state’s youth, sports and human capital development exco member from 2018 to 2020 when Harapan was in power.
In the aftermath of the 15th general election last November, when Perak was left with a hung assembly, Howard was tasked with delivering Harapan’s offer to support state BN chief Saarani Mohamad as menteri besar.
It paved the way for Perak’s first coalition government and set the stage for Harapan and BN’s cooperation at the federal level as well.
Within DAP, he served as the party’s youth chief from 2018 to 2022, and was later co-opted into the party’s central executive committee last year. - Mkini
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