Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming has taken the high road in response to repeated attacks from Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh on his party and other issues.
The DAP lawmaker made it clear that he has no intention of engaging in an argument with someone not of the same league.
“As far as I’m concerned, lions don’t argue with flies,” Nga (above, right) quipped during a Chinese New Year visit and interview with China Press yesterday.
“We are not on the same level, so there’s no need for a debate,” he added.
Despite his personal restraint, the DAP vice-chairperson assured that the party would not remain silent in the face of such criticisms.
"If Akmal speaks once, (DAP Youth chief) Woo (Kah Leong) replies tenfold. Even DAP Youth publicity secretary Ho Zi Yang has been relentless in issuing rebuttals.
“So, while I might not respond, the party certainly does,” Nga said.
Nga pointed out that it would be inappropriate for him, as a DAP minister and MP, to directly engage with someone in a junior political position.
Just in the same way that if Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi makes a statement, then DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke will address it, he added.
Akmal calls Nga a ‘ham-brain’
Previously, Akmal criticised Nga regarding the issue of “ham” sandwiches sold at KK Mart on the Universiti of Malaya (UM) campus, which bore an unauthorised halal logo.
Earlier, Nga stated that “ham” simply refers to cured meat and that there are ham made of turkey and chicken.
According to the DAP leader, making this matter an issue only reveals who the real fool is.
Akmal rebutted stating that “ham” refers to pork, not the method of food preparation.
He further rebuked Nga and suggested that the minister refer to the definition of “ham” in the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, which states that it refers to pork.
In an immediate response to Nga’s “lions and flies” comment today, Akmal said:
“Wow, claiming to be a lion but doesn’t even understand the meaning of ‘ham,’ instead thinking it refers to a food preparation process.
“Oh, I forgot, that’s how dense people are. Truly a ham-brain,” he posted on Instagram.
Nga praises Zahid’s move towards moderation
Reflecting on Zahid’s leadership, Nga noted the Umno president’s shift towards moderation since the formation of the coalition government.
He praised Zahid, who spoke about rebuilding public confidence in moderate politics during last year’s Umno general assembly, as it showed the Malay-based party moving away from its previous extremist stance.
However, Nga acknowledged that not everyone in Umno shares Zahid’s moderate vision.
“In any large organisation, there will always be a few bad apples. A party with a million members will inevitably have its share of individuals who might tarnish its reputation.
"The key is for Umno’s top leadership to manage these challenges wisely,” Nga added.
The Teluk Intan MP emphasised that DAP’s alliance with Umno under the coalition government is based on shared national interests, with both parties working together for the betterment of the nation.
“As for individuals like Akmal, we keep our distance. Our approach is clear: we focus on issues, not personalities.
"If Akmal does something right, we’ll acknowledge it. Rational governance means being professional and focusing on what truly matters,” Nga added. - Mkini
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