INTERVIEW | Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz is openly proud of his “gangster” reputation, which he earned from his straight-talking ways, and says he takes a no-holds-barred approach towards any critic of BN.

At the same time, the Umno supreme council member said in an interview with Malaysiakini, he has no reservations about the moments caught on camera that he shared with at least one prominent opposition leader in the north.

“It’s not romantic at all, it’s democratic… I am straight,” Nazri said, with a laugh, to questions on photographs of him hugging and holding hands with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng during various events in the state that have been posted on social media.

However, the Padang Rengas MP remains unfazed by his critics.

He also pointed out that, at least in Penang, he would stand to gain more from a public impression of being on very good terms with Lim, who is also the DAP secretary-general.

“So sometimes I do that… When I go to Penang, it’s a DAP crowd. I have more to gain if we both decide to hug,” he said, hinting that it could even have been at Lim’s expense.

As for his own colleagues in BN, Nazri said he similarly has no qualms about hugging them but then, no MCA leader had ever approached him for a hug.

“Why don't the others hug me? I got no problem. Hug melah. I am straight.

“They can hug me. You can (also) ask them back, why don't they hug me?” he said.

“What’s wrong? He is my friend,” he said candidly when further questioned whether he would extend a hug to MCA president Liow Tiong Lai (photo).

In the week before the interview was conducted, Nazri was engaged in a war of words with Liow and several MCA leaders over their defence of Hong Kong-based Malaysian billionaire Robert Kuok.

Nazri earlier told Malaysiakini that there would be no apologies forthcoming to the MCA, but insisted it was only because there has never been a precedent of him apologising to any party that felt offended by his, at times, “vitriolic” remarks.

'I respect democracy'

Nazri also pointed out that in his current position as tourism and culture minister, it would be impossible for him to avoid working with Harapan leaders in Penang and Selangor.

“I respect democracy. As much as I want people to respect me because I am an elected representative, I must also respect the MPs from the opposition, who have also been elected by the people.

“You can’t just say, ‘hey, you are not from BN’ or ‘I am part of the federal government and you are an opposition state’. You have to respect each other lah,” he said, adding that it was part and parcel of a democracy.

At the end of the two-hour interview, Nazri was subjected to a rapid-fire round where he was given a list of nine names and one item, to which he had to state the first thing that came to his mind.

While admitting to being unfamiliar with the game, Nazri accepted the challenge and gave his not-so-spontaneous answers, as listed below:

1) Najib - Friend
2) Mahathir - Ex-sifu
3) Guan Eng - Chief Minister
4) Jho Low - I don’t know him
5) Liow Tiong Lai - Close friend
6) Steak - Well done
7) Trump - Undescribable
8) Hadi - PAS president
9) Anwar - A friend
10) Malaysiakini - Brave

THE NAZRI INTERVIEW

When curtain falls on Najib's political career, mine ends as well - Nazri

Easy to defend 'innocent' Najib on 1MDB, says Nazri

It really hurts to attack my ex-sifu, concedes Nazri

Nazri: Non-Muslims must vote BN parties to ensure rights remain protected

Is DAP anti-Malay and Islam? Nazri shares his thoughts

No apology to MCA, Nazri explains why