Was Pua's 'stupid ministers' remark referring to Pakatan itself, asks Selangor Barisan info chief

PETALING JAYA: After Damansara MP Tony Pua declared that only "stupid people" joined politics, Selangor Barisan Nasional information chief Isham Jalil has clapped back by posting a list of "blunders" involving Pakatan Harapan ministers.

"Tony, are you talking about the 22 months when Pakatan was in power when you say we have stupid ministers?" Isham asked in a Facebook post on Thursday (May 19).

Isham's list contained 21 "blunders" involving former ministers under Pakatan, which included, among others, former primary industries minister Teresa Kok's call for Malaysians to drink a spoonful of palm oil daily and former minister Datuk Seri Redzuan Md Yusof's flying car idea.

The list included former education minister Maszlee Malik's idea of changing school shoes to black and former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad saying that Pakatan's manifesto is not a holy book, and a remark by the former deputy de facto law minister saying that it wasn't easy for MPs to stay in Parliament because it's too cold.

Isham also reminded Pua that the DAP MP had once claimed in 2018 that the sales and services tax (SST) would lower prices of goods.

"SST will make goods cheaper. You (Pua) said that," added Isham.

On Wednesday (May 18), Pua told a DAP fundraiser that Malaysia does not have "bright ministers" because intelligent people avoid politics.

"When smart people don't join politics, who becomes prime minister? Stupid people," said Pua.

Pua also said Malaysians tend to discourage their children from joining politics, resulting in smart students avoiding politics.