In the latest episode of his “Keluar Sekejap” podcast, Khairy said they should just deal with the brickbats.
“When you were in the opposition, you said all sorts of things, claiming that if you won, everything would be free.
“Now that you’re in government, you finally know what it’s like. (Now) for the first time in your life, you are a minister, so face it (the criticism),” he said.
Khairy also said the brickbats the government leaders are encountering are the result of statements made when they were in the opposition.
“In the past, you levelled a lot of criticism, and now it has come back to haunt you,” he said.
In 2013, PKR’s Rafizi Ramli, now the economy minister, criticised the government’s decision to cut fuel subsidies.
Rafizi said the decision by then prime minister Najib Razak’s administration to increase fuel prices revealed its poor financial management.
However, in April this year, Rafizi said the government would continue to reduce petrol subsidies in an effort to lower the fiscal deficit.
Khairy also suggested gradually removing petrol subsidies, warning that a blanket removal, even with systems like Budi Madani in place, would significantly impact the national economy.
Under the initiative, private diesel vehicle owners in the B40 category will receive RM200.
On Sunday, the government raised the price of diesel from RM2.15 per litre to RM3.35, but only in West Malaysia.
Unity government shouldn’t be dismissive of Bersih
On a separate matter, Khairy said the unity government should not be quick to dismiss Bersih as irrelevant after the electoral reform group gave the government an “F” for not fulfilling reforms promised in the PH manifesto during the last general election.
He said Bersih was just doing its job, and when civil societies or NGOs are involved in issues like institutional reforms and election law improvements, the government must listen.
“We shouldn’t be arrogant and claim they are irrelevant,” the former Umno Youth chief said.
On Monday, Umno Supreme Council member Razlan Rafii said Bersih had become irrelevant, adding that its past demands had been fulfilled by the previous Barisan Nasional government.