Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed has earned brickbats online after he posted a photo of him declaring that the price of spinach (bayam) had stabilised on Facebook.
He also posted another photo of himself paying a visit to vendors at a wet market and stated that the price of bananas was now RM5 per kilogram, a RM1 increase from its previous price.
The third photo to be posted by him came with the following caption: “The price of cabbages is stable according to public feedback.”
Mustapa is part of the Jihad Against Inflation Special Task Force led by Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa, where their main job is to garner information from ministries, agencies and the public to curb inflation and control price hikes, reported FMT.
Other members include Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Ronald Kiandee, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi, and Chief Secretary to the government Zuki Ali.
Why talk about bayam?
The post quickly attracted backlash from netizens, who criticised Mustapa for focusing on the wrong kind of food items.
“Chicken is the issue, but spinach is the one that is being stabilised.”
“Thank God…. we’ll get some spinach to cook with our rendang for Raya.”
“YB, we want price of A.Y.A.M not B.A.Y.A.M. We’re not Popeye.”
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Cover Image via Facebook / Mustapa Mohamed and Bernama
Editor: Sarah Yeoh
