KOTA KINABALU: Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid yesterday stressed that the ‘kangkung’ issue is not funny.
“We should not look at ‘kangkung’ as a petty thing … there is more to the vegetable because I believe everyone of us has tasted it. Who has not eaten kangkung cooked with ‘belacan’ (shrimp paste)? I grew up eating kangkung, so it is not a bad thing,” she said, addressing 250 graduates of the Zone 4 (Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Gaya, Sepanggar, Tuaran) GiatMara Training Centre, yesterday.
She said it was not right for people to ridicule Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for using the kangkung, or water spinach, as an example to reflect the increase and decrease of prices of goods.
“This shows that the Prime Minister and government are concerned about the people’s needs, including things being favoured by the people, like kangkung. I think it is time for us to stop playing on the issue and instead focus on more important things such as assistance and aid for those in need, especially those affected by floods,” she said.
Jainab said the opposition had never failed to criticise the government on many issues, but failed to realise that they were not doing anything either to lighten the people’s burden.
“They can talk all they want, but it should also come with action, meaning while they criticise the government for failure to provide aid for flood victims, they should do something to help the needy. But I do not see them doing anything … all they do is to find the government’s faults and weaknesses,” said jainab.
She said people should judge some people by the deeds they have done, and avoid anyone who only lives to look at other people’s faults.
“Nobody is perfect. I, myself, is not perfect, but I focus on what I am good at. I do not care what people say about me but I know that I am doing my best to help whatever I can. We must first learn our strengths and identify our weaknesses before passing any judgments on others.
“And that is the recipe to success,” she said.