My lunch had nothing to do with Menu Rahmah, exco says after backlash

• UPDATED 11.40PM | Added Hanafiah’s response.

Chukai assemblyperson Hanafiah Mat said his meal shown in a video that has gone viral has nothing to do with the government’s Menu Rahmah programme.

According to a report by Sinar Harian today, the Terengganu exco member plans to take legal action against those who spread the video to make false accusations against him.

Hanafiah reportedly said that, at the time of the video recording, he was having lunch with a friend at a shop outside Terengganu which was not a Menu Rahmah item.

“What was shown in the video was my lunch consisting of one fish, two vegetable dishes, and a fried egg without gravy, because the meal does not come with gravy.

“It is customary for Terengganu folk that rice must be eaten with gravy, so I decided to use my orange drink as gravy in order to finish my lunch.

“We were charged about RM15 for two people. I did not talk about Menu Rahmah and have no intention to belittle certain people because that is not me. As an elected representative, I understand the pulse of the people.

“What happened was others misinterpreted the video and made nonsensical accusations against me,” he reportedly told the Malay language daily today.

Hanafiah said we will give his accusers two days to apologise to him on TikTok while he consults a lawyer about the case.

In a video uploaded to his TikTok account earlier today, Hanafiah is seen talking about his dissatisfaction with the mixed rice dish he was eating, consisting of fish and vegetables without gravy.

He then poured a liquid from a cup he brought onto the dish.

The video has gone viral on social media and received pushback from many quarters, including Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil - as well as Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

Syed Saddiq tweeted that Hanafiah’s actions were shameful and seemed to be insulting the underprivileged.

“Many of those in need are benefiting from the Menu Rahmah (programme).

“Not all have huge salaries like the exco and can eat at fancy places.

“Even if you do not agree, there is no need to lower the dignity of the poor by making light of their food. What a shame,” the Muda president tweeted.

Meanwhile, Fahmi also shared the same sentiments as Syed Saddiq, tweeting that it is vicious to shame people’s food.

The issue came in wake of an incident where another PAS lawmaker was accused of insulting the underprivileged in their criticism of the Menu Rahmah programme.

Previously, Kapar MP Halimah Ali sparked controversy with her debate in the Dewan Rakyat, when she linked Menu Rahmah to health issues such as cancer and autism.

She has repeatedly denied making the statement and urged people to refer to the Hansard as proof.

The Menu Rahmah programme is a recently launched government initiative to reduce the cost of living, especially for the poor, by offering meals at RM5 or below.

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