NO doubt this is a personal choice but a netizen boldly wondered if the Proklamasi Melayu chief advocate Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been “too busy politicking” till he forgot to pay tribute to the late Domestic Trade and Costs of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub who breathed his last at 9.23pm on Sunday (July 23).
As the former twice premier harped on his incessant “non-Malays getting richer while the Malays remain poor” agenda, the netizen, Muhammad Najib, aired his amazement that “Tun is the only one (who has yet to convey his condolences) for he’s busy politicking”.
“Today I opened the Facebook (FB) of (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim, (Tan Sri) Hadi Awang, Syed Saddiq, Lim Guan Eng, (Tan Sri) Muhyiddin Yassin and Anthony Loke and have extended their condolences and prayers for the late Salahuddin Ayub,” commented the netizen on Dr Mahathir’s latest post entitled Negara Bangsa (Nation State).
“Only Tun’s FB has none for he is still busy with politics. I pray that when Tun’s time comes, there will be no political leader who is tone deaf like Tun by being busy politicking on the day of Tun’s funeral.”
The post which garnered 934 likes at the time of writing must have had deep penetrative effect for it promoted the country’s longest serving premier of 22 years and 22 months to eventually pay tribute to the late two-time Pulai MP and Johor Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman.
“From Him we came, to Him we return. I express my condolences to the family of Allahyarham YB DS Salahuddin Ayub upon his return to the mercy of Allah,” penned Dr Mahathir about five hours after hours after Muhammad Najib’s ‘reminder’.
“I got to know him better while in the Cabinet between 2018 and 2020. Throughout that time, I found him to be a good, humble, trustworthy and responsible leader. The country will suffer the loss. Praying that his spirit will be placed among the faithful.”
In all fairness to Dr Mahathir, the comment by Mohd Najib received mixed reaction with netizen Rohaidi Jaafar stressing that suffice if the elderly statesman has uttered his condolences from his heart.
“Don’t take it as if FB is the only means to convey messages,” he advised while netizen Di Di reckoned that Dr Mahathir could have expressed his condolences personally (to the late Salahuddin’s family members).
“Not everything has to be hyped through social media. You’ve made a bad assumption, an action that God detests.”
But netizen Sharon Lai remarked: “After your comment, Muhammad Najib, Tun’s condolence message has appeared.” – July 25, 2023
