Social media users tell Syed Saddiq to 'grow a spine'

Looi Sue-Chern Looi Sue-Chern Updated 5 years ago · Published on 9 Jul 2018 1:37PM · 14 Comments

Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has remained mum on his press officer Numan Afifi, who quit today after being taunted for being an LGBT activist. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, July 9, 2018.

SOCIAL media users today questioned why Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman did not stand up for his press officer Numan Afifi, who quit today after being taunted for being an activist for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) community.

Commenting on Numan’s Facebook page, they slammed Syed Saddiq, urging the young minister to grow a spine and stand up for what is right.

Numan, who had organised the highly criticised Pride Day breaking of fast event last year, had worked in Syed Saddiq’s election campaign and has been part of Syed Saddiq’s press team during the transitional phase in the ministry.

Although he never held any official post at the ministry, his involvement had been slammed by LGBT critics, leading him to resign.

“Your friend didn’t even have the spine to come out and defend his friend. I think you need to learn to choose better friends, at least some with b****,” Shul Saad said.

Prominent lawyer and activist Siti Kasim said Syed Saddiq should have defended Numan regardless of his sexual orientation.

“Don’t be like these politicians who have no b**** to stand up for your right, Numan. This Syed should have defended you or anyone no matter what sexual orientation, race or religion that person may have. 

“He should have stood up for you just like that Penang DAP guy did when he employed a trans (transvestite),” she said on Facebook.

Siti Kasim, a known defender of the rights of minority groups, was referring to former Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu, who quit DAP ahead of the 14th general election. 

The former rep in Penang, who also championed the rights of the minority group, previously had a transgender officer in his service team.

“Instead of trying to clean trash that is visible, he should have cleared the trashy minds in our society,” the lawyer added, referring to images that had gone viral showing Syed Saddiq picking up after football fans during a recent match at Bukit Jalil stadium.

In a Facebook posting earlier today, Numan said the criticisms and threats from opposition propagandists had made it impossible for him to exercise his duties, adding that he has decided not to work at the ministry in any official capacity.

He said would continue to help Syed Saddiq, who he called a friend, as his interim press officer until a permanent replacement is appointed.

Facebook user Mahi Ramakrishnan also criticised the minister for not standing firm against discrimination.

“If he did, he would have defended you and stood up for you. I wish you the best of luck with your future endeavours. And I certainly hope the honourable minister grows a spine quickly.”

Ruq Abd Manan said Syed Saddiq missed the chance to reiterate that any appointment was based on credibility and professional capacity, and that a person’s sexual orientation shouldn’t be up for public debate.

“I am extremely disappointed with your minister,” Reeza Redzuan Rosnan wrote on Numan’s Facebook page.

“Go out there and spread your wings, while I am here reading stupid arguments of how nobody wants to persecute LGBT, only to discriminate, as if it is okay.”

Syed Saddiq, despite his popularity, has certainly lost some points over this issue with some Facebook users saying they had lost their good opinion of him.

Scott Cheong in his message to Numan said Malaysians hoping for a new Malaysia were with him, not a “young minister who obviously didn’t stand up for you”.

“I liked him, but not anymore when the language issue was brought up by him,” he said, referring to Syed Saddiq’s recent criticism against Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng over the latter’s posting of an official statement in Chinese on his Facebook page.

“We don’t need ministers who are bigoted and have discriminative thoughts just because there are a bunch of religious activists who are against minorities,” Cheong said.

However, some social media users slammed the activist, such as Facebook user Imannuel Zaihan, who said Numan’s views were not in sync with Malaysia’s principles.

“Your liberal thoughts will bring catastrophe to the nation. Your paradigm is not compatible with the fundamentals of Malaysia,” he said.

But most Facebook users simply wished Numan, who said he would be going overseas in the near future, all the best and to stay strong.

Malacca’s Ayer Keroh assemblyman from DAP, Kerk Chee Yee, 26, who is also Malaysia’s youngest state exco, said he was disappointed with society’s current mindset.

“Stay strong. I’m very sorry for the state of mentality our society is in that you have to go through all this. 

“You’re amazing and do continue to inspire others. We’re proud of you!” – July 9, 2018.

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Comments

  • Move on Bro, national issue more important!

    Posted 5 years ago by John Emilio · Reply

    • This IS a national issue by all accounts.

      Posted 5 years ago by William Tan · Reply

    • He has lost his credibility - first it was the language issue and now this. He should have at least spoken up for him. Anyways, the focus should be on the quality of his work, not his sexual orientation or his beliefs. These are human beings and they deserve to be treated with respect and fairly. They are taxpayers and have contributed to the country. I'm totally disappointed with Syed. How could he?

      Posted 5 years ago by JK Unrowling · Reply

  • It is from small issues and sometimes trivial it may be that we learn and educate ourselves to perform better and be ready for bigger roles. Syed saddiq has to grow up fast to be a good examples to the young youth in facing concerns rather to pander on being politically correct in decorum. It will be seen as lack of astuteness to balance the game in the political landscape. It will now lead to the perceptions that the garbage collection at the stadium are selected drama to enhance his image but this last two incidents especially the languages issues of LGE and now sparring no thoughts for fellow worker dilemma of being different will be viewed as skewed to the Umno fundamental racist style of Pertahankan Bangsa , Bahasa dan Agama. He needs to loose off his style on this approach as it does not help to make him more Malays than the others. It shows inmaturity and naiveness.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • National issue .more important

    Posted 5 years ago by Sydlim sydlim · Reply

    • Are not the country activities and human interaction part of the national issues. Everything born from the country is national issues and depend on the magnitude of its begining. It can be small but can be potenial to be big if allows to fester. Not nipping it by the bud and in the guise of not being important is just a common folly of every one due to the attitude that it does not warrant first hand attention or to be KIV.

      Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Maybe he needs to take leave to continue his studies overseas and learn from them. But he sacrificed his studies and now he may need to ask whether he has the capability to lead. Just because he excelled academically doesn't mean he can perform in his work. I admire his sacrifice but I do wonder about his capability since he brought up the language issue etc. We want him to perform well but he must be humble to learn and learn fast.

    Posted 5 years ago by Jesse Lingard · Reply

  • If I were to employ a person I would not give a rats to the gender inclination of said person. What he or she does is his/her personal business as long as said person can deliver and meet an organisations objectives.

    Posted 5 years ago by Justice For All · Reply

  • Syed Saddiq, being the youngest person to be selected for a minister position, you really need to be very careful with everything around you. Be it what you "say,do or act", there'll be many people who will pick on everything you say or do. My advice to you is to stop getting the attention for the wrong reason.

    Another important advice is, behave yourself when you are dealing with girls or women. Don't get "halal", or else you'll find yourself in deep shit soon enough.

    Posted 5 years ago by K Teoh · Reply

  • Syed Saddiq, being the youngest person to be selected for a minister position, you really need to be very careful with everything around you. Be it what you "say,do or act", there'll be many people who will pick on everything you say or do. My advice to you is to stop getting the attention for the wrong reason.

    Another important advice is, behave yourself when you are dealing with girls or women. Don't get "halal", or else you'll find yourself in deep shit soon enough.

    Posted 5 years ago by K Teoh · Reply

  • Simply young people going through a learning curve..

    Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • What is right is right
    What is wrong is wrong
    Stick to the teaching of Islam

    Posted 5 years ago by Mubarak Ali · Reply

    • And Allah did not create these LGBT individuals?

      Posted 5 years ago by Ivan Reader · Reply

  • All the debating skills in the world but not enough skills to debate with extremists apparently.. Sad

    Posted 5 years ago by Baru Malaysian · Reply