Despite drawing flak for his "two jobs" suggestion, Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Ahmad Maslan says his focus is on helping to increase the people's income.

He has also set up the tagline '#tambahpendapatan' in his Twitter account where he gives his ideas to the public to help them earn more.

"This is different from the #2kerja (two jobs); we want to make #tambahpendapatan popular. This is more positive than #2kerja," he said.

In addition, he assured that agencies under his ministry would also work to help the people.

"Whatever ideas and measures (the ministry's) agencies have to increase income, (we will do it)," he said when met at the sideline of National Book Awards ceremony in Kuala Lumpur today.

The government will press hard in its efforts to uplift the people's earnings, with programmes such as 'One Village, One Industry' and 'One Family, One Entrepreneur', said the Pontian parliamentarian.

“It is important to help solve the issue of rising costs through increasing income,” he added.

Meanwhile, he said he has forgiven those who had poked fun at him on the "two jobs" remarks, jesting that he had three jobs judging from his allowances – as deputy minister, MP, and Umno information chief.

"For me, a job is a job when remuneration is given," he added.

Controversial proposal

Ahmad had proposed that Malaysians should explore second jobs by venturing into e-commerce to make ends meet on Dec 26. The controversial proposal has since attracted much criticism from civil society, netizens and politicians.

When met today, he expressed regret that the people had poked fun at him on social media.

He said he had become a target for these groups since the implementation of GST and he did not like it.

He added that people should look at the overall perspective of the Twitter postings, not just take one, spin it out of the context, and spread it online.

DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang was among the people who had drawn wrong conclusions on his posting, he said, adding that he only proposed people to take second jobs, such as working in online businesses at night and on weekends.

"I will continue to face the challenge of being active on social media. As a leader, if I do not come out with suggestions, then it is better that I be a follower," he said.

"But (the people) need to look at my suggestions precisely. I have forgiven some of those (who made fun of me.) I am a person who wants to sleep well at night and won't be affected by such criticism," he said.

"I come from a poor background, my family tapped rubber. Our village began to enjoy electricity, water and road facilities only when I was 30 years old,

"If you were to look at my background, you will know that as someone who lived in poverty, I have no intention of making things difficult for the people," he said.