SARAWAKIANS and Sabahans have taken to the social media to slam Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz over his remarks against Sarawak Tourism Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who is seeking a deferment of the tourism tax in Sarawak.

Nazri yesterday called Karim a “young corn”, referring to the latter’s appointment as the tourism, arts, culture, youth and sports minister last month.

Nazri was also quoted as telling Karim (pic) “to shut up” over the issue.

“He is a newly appointed minister, a BN minister. He doesn’t have to show off,” he told reporters at a function in Kuala Lumpur last night.

“Meet me, I am also a BN minister. You are still new. Don’t talk too much.”

He also accused Karim of “talking big” and behaving like a “gangster”.

Sabahan “Roger T” said on WhatsApp: “This Nazri is too arrogant. His foul mouth and talking without thinking exposed his own stupidity. A classic example of Malaya supremacist”.

“A very clear reflection of the arrogant attitude of Umno leaders,” PKR grassroots leader Boniface Willey Tumek wrote in a Facebook posting.

“Begs the question of how did Sarawak leaders in BN become so beholden and subservient to Umno leaders that Umno guys like Nazri have no second thoughts about rubbing Abang Karim in the dirt publicly,” Tumek added.

Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office Abdullah Saidol in his FB posting asked how an experienced minister could have answered a question in such a manner.

“You said you have been a minister for a long time, a political veteran and had also been a law minister. 

“Surely you should be more intelligent. Answer politely and with maturity.

“Don’t be such a snob. Hello Mr Minister… mutual respect goes both ways ok..” Abdullah said.

Abdullah, who was also made a minister during the May state cabinet reshuffle, said Nazri’s “feudalistic” behaviour is making the people fed up with the political culture that is pervasive in the country today.

A former Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) youth leader, Pandi Suhaili, in his blog warned that Nazri’s arrogance and rude behaviour could have political consequences and electoral repercussion in the next elections.

“Nazri should not assume that people in Sarawak would just cow and keep quiet when their ministers are disrespected, belittled and bullied.

“There will be repercussions and it will be on their support for Barisan Nasional,” he said.

“The strong support for the Sarawak BN does not mean it’s also a strong support for the federal BN.”

Sarawak and Sabah and other states like Penang are unhappy over the tourism tax which will come into effect on July 1.

The Tourism Tax Bill by was tabled on April 4 and passed a day later. Dewan Negara approved the bill without any amendments on April 27.

A check on Dewan Rakyat’s Hansard showed that only one Sabah MP debated the bill on April 5.  

Darell Leiking (PKR-Penampang) asked if the government would promise to share the taxes with the states. The suggestion to share the tourism taxes was made by Seremban MP Anthony Loke (DAP) at the session which ended at 4.57am. – June 12, 2017.