He then turned the tables on opposition leaders who had raised the issue by asking what they would use next in order to criticise Najib.
“When there is nothing to talk about, they will focus on these things.
“I hope they don’t make an issue next over what type of underwear the prime minister wears,” Nazri said at a press conference after signing a memorandum of understanding between Malaysia and Senegal today.
Quinoa hit the spotlight last Thursday, when Najib was speaking about Budget 2018 at an event at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
During his speech, he said he had switched from rice to quinoa based on his son’s recommendation.
His remark drew the ire of opposition leaders like DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang who said the prime minister was out of touch with ordinary folk who ate rice. The Gelang Patah MP said this was because quinoa is at least 20 times the price of rice.
Former prime minister turned opposition leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad also commented on the matter, saying he only eats rice.
However, Najib responded by saying the cost of his quinoa was lower than that of the feed Mahathir gave his stable of horses.
Nazri, who is part of the Umno Supreme Council, said Najib was justified in taking quinoa instead of rice.
“As the prime minister said, quinoa is for older people. Rice has such a high sugar content. For those of us who are getting older, too much rice can lead to diabetes.
“So to avoid that, Japan has an excellent type of quinoa. The prime minister isn’t posing, he can afford to buy it so where’s the harm?
“Likewise with Mahathir, he can afford the horse feed which is even more expensive.”
Nazri said there was nothing wrong with making a choice to eat more healthily.
“Najib just wants to eat healthier and as such buys a more expensive grain. What’s wrong with that?
“Mahathir, on the other hand, seems to love horses more than our prime minister does.”