The Umno minister recently created an uproar on social media when he asked Malaysians to get a second job in order to keep up with the rising cost of living.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 2015 National Book Award Scholars Appreciation Ceremony at Putra World Trade Centre, Ahmad Maslan said that he was interested in putting across ideas that increased the people’s take-home income as he felt that was the best way to deal with increasing costs.
“I have been a target of the social media mobs, since the days of GST (Goods and Services Tax), something which I’m not really fond of,” said Ahmad Maslan.
“If you look at everything that I have said and posted on Twitter, there was nothing negative about it, but it was spun that way, which I regret.”
He urged the public to read his messages in their entirety and not pick one or two aspects and take it out of context, which led to inaccurate assessments and reports.
Making specific reference to his suggestion that people could set-up an online business, Ahmad Maslan elaborated, “All I said was that an online business, done according to the regulations in the evenings or weekends, would help increase income, in addition to a regular job.”
The deputy minister spoke of his humble beginnings growing up in a family of rubber tappers, where life was far from luxurious, and reiterated that he would never suggest an idea that would ultimately burden the public.
He recounted: “I was from a poor family of rubber tappers, and my village only had electricity, water, roads in 1996 when I was 30 years old.
“So I wouldn’t want to burden the people. My suggestion was to add to their income, so they would have an easier life.”
Despite foreseeing another difficult year ahead for him on social media, he said that he would remain defiant in the face of critics and continue to express ideas and suggestions that he felt would help the rakyat.
“That’s what separates leaders from followers. If you’re not going to voice your ideas, then you’re better off just being a follower,” he said.
However, Ahmad Maslan said he was not one to hold grudges, and had forgiven most of his harshest critics, something which helped him sleep better at night.