"Azalina Did Not Go To Nepal For Shopping," Says Angry Zam

Cheesed off with unconfirmed reports in the form of fliers that Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said had visited Nepal in order to go shopping, Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin chided the group that 'politicised' the success of the country's heroes from the Information Ministry who conquered Mount Everest, the world's highest peak.

According to a Bernama report he said that they (the 'bad' guys) not only purposely came earlier to the KL International Airport (KLIA) here to greet the expedition team in the welcoming celebrations organised by the government, but had also kicked off their political game much earlier when Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said visited the base camp at Kathmandu in Nepal.

"This is politics of the lowest degree. As they are devoid of political capital, they stoop low to the extent of politicising a sporting event," he told reporters after welcoming the Mount Everest expedition team.

Zainuddin and Azalina were at KLIA to welcome participants of the Merdeka De'Everest expedition team comprising RTM cameraman Idris Said, 51, Ahmad Reduan Rozali, 25, Ahmad Fakhri Abu Samah, 25, RTM assistant producer Marina Ahmad, 25, Mohd Rofi Kori, 35, and expedition team leader Muhammad Fauzan Hasan, 39.

At the same function, Azalina said programmes initiated by the government to bolster the country's image should not be politicised by any group.

She said the feat by the Information Ministry staff was a pride of the nation as it was achieved at a time when the country was preparing to usher in its 50th independence anniversary celebrations.

Zam also used the welcoming event as a propaganda opportunity and expectedly linked the Everest trip as a motivation for the people under a programme to enhance self-confidence. He predictably hastened to add that "this is important, especially for the Malays, as they are lagging far behind in self-confidence, openness and their preparedness to compete with others!"

Openly announcing his desire to use the successful mountaineers for positive publicity for the government he said that Marina Ahmad, the first Malaysian woman to conquer Mount Everest, would be paraded alongside the Kembara Merdeka team members throughout the country to meet and 'motivate' Malaysians.

I wonder what Zam has planned for the successful Malaysian cosmonaut when he returns from space? Whatever hype that will ensue after that event will be vintage Zam at his best. Let's wait and see.

Image - Source:
1) Lord Zam
2) Azalina
3)HYPE