Muhyiddin uses Azizan to justify costlier sugar

VIDEO | 1.33 mins

SG LIMAU Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today justified abolishing the sugar subsidy by pointing to former Kedah menteri besar, the late Azizan Abdul Razak, whose legs were amputated due to diabetes prior to his death on Sept 26.

"The problem with Malaysia is, we're prosperous.

"Those who died are destined by Allah, but in this world, many are eating a lot and at the same time, taking a lot of sugar, until... I don't have to elaborate much about the late (Azizan, right).

"Because of this (consuming sugar), he is forced to go through the process where his legs had to be amputated," Muhyiddin said.

The DPM was trying to justify the subsidy cut, saying the government wanted to control the people's high sugar consumption as it led to health problems.

He was delivering his speech to a 1,500-strong crowd at SMK Sungai Limau in a meet-the-people session today as part of the BN's by-election campaign.

The death of Azizan, who was Sungai Limau assemblyperson for five terms, resulted in the Nov 4 by-election.

PAS demands apology

When tabling the 2014 Budget in Dewan Rakyat yesterday, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced that the sugar subsidy of 34 sen a kilo will be abolished effective today.

Najib said the move was to reduce the number of diabetics in the country as statistics showed 2.6 million Malaysians under the age of 30 were suffering from diabetes.

To this, Muhyiddin told the 1,500-strong crowd that he does not consume sugar at all.

"So, the announcement by government to cut sugar subsidy is correct so as to ensure the people's health," he said.

In an immediate response, PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar described Muhyiddin's remark as "a humiliation" and demanded a public apology.

"I urge him (Muhyiddin) to uphold his morals and learn the politeness practised by the locals," Mahfuz told Malaysiakini when contacted today.

Mahfuz said Muhyiddin should make a public apology to Azizan's family members as well as the local residents who had supported Azizan for many years.

He added that diabetes was not mainly caused by sugar consumption but other factors as well.