While many are engaged in discussions about Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's English speaking skills in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly last week, PAS vice-president Iskandar Samad questioned why he should speak in English at all.

"People are making fun of our deputy prime minister's speech at the UN General Assembly but why should you speak in English? Why not in our national language?" Iskandar asked in a Facebook post today.

He pointed out that many other leaders of countries where English was not the native language would not dream of using English at the UN as they are always proud of their own language.

Paradoxically, his post was written in English, but Iskandar explained the reason behind that.

"So why am I writing this in English? For the benefit of Facebook friends all over the world," he said.

Zahid led the Malaysian delegation to the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, and he delivered the speech last Saturday.

After his speech was made available online, netizens criticised his English skills, hitting out mostly at Zahid's pronunciation of certain words.

Zahid also gained an unlikely defender when it comes to his English speaking skills, in the form of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) pro-tem committee member Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman.

Syed Saddiq said he was disappointed with those who ridiculed Zahid's efforts in delivering his speech in English, pointing out that the deputy prime minister had a choice to speak in Bahasa Malaysia but chose to take the more difficult route.

He also blamed the furore over Zahid's English speaking skills on schools that create a 'toxic environment' for people to learn English.