OPPOSITION leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today thanked Prime Minister Najib Razak for sharing the success story of chicken seller Wan Azizah Wan Salleh during the tabling of Budget 2018 on Friday.

“Thank you Pekan MP for the Kak Wan story and taking the time to invite her to the Dewan. Congratulations to Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia on its success in producing a successful woman entrepreneur,” said Dr Wan Azizah in her opening speech today as the floor is open to debate the budget 2018.

She reminded Parliament of how the other Kak Wan’s success came about, saying it was due to a programme initiated by her husband Anwar Ibrahim when he was the education minister.

“It originated from the research and a proposal of a Universiti Sains Malaysia team. Anwar Ibrahim took the idea and made it a special programme to eradicate poverty. That special programme was named Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia,” she said.

Najib in his speech on Friday expressed sympathy for the sufferings of a chicken seller named “Wan Azizah”, and commended her for her resilience.

His jest drew loud protests from the opposition as their leader, Dr Wan Azizah was affectionately known as “Kak Wan”.

Najib’s “Kak Wan” was chicken seller Wan Azizah Wan Salleh, who was seated in the public gallery during the tabling of the budget.

“Wan Azizah, better known as Kak Wan, had gone through so many challenges in her life.

“But she had patience and she persevered.

“It seems that Kak Wan is here with us today,” he added, to loud protests from the opposition.

Najib was grinning from ear to ear as he pointed to a Wan Azizah Wan Salleh seated in the public gallery.

Wan Azizah, Najib said, was an example of a successful Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia recipient.

“She has successfully become a millionaire by breeding and processing chickens with a start-up capital of only RM500 from Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia,” he said, referring to the micro-financing programme.

Dr Wan Azizah earlier told Parliament that for more than 20 years, she has had to endure all manner of comments and curses made against her and her family members and was used to it.

“That only strengthened me and my friends’ spirit to continue our fight for the people who have been cheated, suppressed and victimised by the those in power,” she said. – October 30, 2017.