A FORMER minister of Indonesia was flayed on social media for commenting on Malaysian affairs, and told he had no business poking his nose into another country’s affairs.

Indonesia’s former justice and human rights minister Hamid Awaludin raised the ire of Malaysians when he said former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was increasingly childish and afflicted with the “post-power” syndrome.

Malaysians said Hamid was unqualified to criticise the country’s longest-serving prime minister because Hamid was a foreigner who did not understand the affairs of Malaysia.

Reacting to Hamid’s comments posted on Facebook, Faizal Faizaladam said if Dr Mahathir were power crazy, he would not have stepped down.

“Those who don’t know anything should not say what they like. If you have received a bribe, just keep quiet. No need to interfere in the affairs of other people’s country,” he wrote in Bahasa Malaysia.

Joshua Lim said Dr Mahathir, who was well past 90, chose to join the opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan, where the components stood on equal footing, unlike Barisan Nasional, which was controlled by Umno.

“If he wants power, sure he won’t join PH,” he wrote.

Fairuz Mohamed Kapi wrote: “You (Hamid) don’t have to concern yourself and interfere with Malaysia’s internal affairs. It will be better for you to pay attention to your own people, as a majority of them still live in poverty.”

On Facebook, Samsul Bahri Awang said: “Tun (Dr Mahathir) harbours hatred for a reason. Why are you (Hamid) trying to curry favour?”

Khng Hunkeat said it would not be wrong of Dr Mahathir to want power as alleged if it was to save Malaysia.

Chiong C Guo said politics was about gaining power and it was what the politicians did with the power that distinguished them as noble or despicable.

“If Dr Mahathir intends to use the power he has gained to better Malaysia, then more power to him. 

“But if the political power gained is used to steal and rob from the rakyat, then such use of power is abhorrent and should be despised,” he wrote on Facebook.

Hamid, in a press conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, hit out at Dr Mahathir for his “Bugis pirates” remark targeted at Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Hamid had said the former prime minister was gripped by the “post-power syndrome” and unable to accept he was no longer boss.

“If you want to make an enemy of Najib, don’t raise the ethnic issue to the point we in Indonesia are dubbed pirates … it does not reflect well on Dr Mahathir as a wise statesman,” Hamid had said.

Umno Youth exco member Mohamed Hazali Abu Hassan and Federal Territory Umno Youth chief Mohd Razlan Muhammad Rafii were present at the event.

Dr Mahathir, who is chairman of Bersatu as well as PH, had said in a November 14 speech that Najib had Bugis pirate ancestors who had strayed to Malaysia, and advised the prime minister to go back to where he belonged.

His remarks offended the local Bugis community, who demanded an apology, and a Bugis youth group in Jakarta.

However, almost all who commented on social media felt Hamid was a busybody who should go back to Indonesia and mind his own business.

Halida Abu Bakar remarked: “Menyibuk!” (nosy) while Andrew Chan commented: “Isn’t this interference in our internal affairs ? Foreigners should mind their own business.”

Adam Adam wrote: “Hamid, don’t embarrass Indonesians with your comments.”

Seeni Mohd said it was a “very, very serious problem” when other countries interfered in Malaysian affairs.

“The foreign affairs minister and Malaysian ambassador must answer.”

Some sarcastically asked who was Hamid to make comments about Malaysia and Dr Mahathir. 

“Who is this creature named Hamid Awaludin? The Wikipedia entry is only half a page,” Shamsinor Zaman commented.

Ju Lee wrote: “Said who? Oh. Nobody.”

Another Facebook user Yeam Kam Long commented: “Mind your own business! How much you received from our Malaysian Bugis Warrior to condemn our Tun Dr Mahathir?”

“Did has-been Hamid Awaludin speak up when Umno spoke in racist terms? Hamid has a selective memory. Real hypocrite this Hamid,” Raymond Noel said.

Lee Chin Chow reminded Hamid racial killings had occurred in his country.

“Who is going to condemn the killings of the Chinese in Jakarta during the 90s, (people of ) East Timur and (the) Papua Christians? Hypocrite.” – December 1, 2017.