By Salawaty Supardi and Aisha Hani Nor Azmir
KUALA LUMPUR — A leader, what more when he is the country’s number one, is often seen as someone who is very busy with the country’s administration, with no time at all to browse the social media for snippets into the lives of the ordinary people, or to humour them.
Nevertheless, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, despite being kept on his toes in having to manage the country and deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, maintains his humility and qualities of a good father that he has been nicknamed “Abah” (father) for sharing with the masses stories about ordinary people he got from the social media.
He clearly captured the people’s attention and made it easy for them to understand the gist of his announcements relating to COVID-19 when he added in some viral information on what people do while being confined to their home during the Movement Control Order (MCO) or funny failed cooking attempts shared in the “Masak Apa Tak Jadi Hari Ni” group on Facebook.
The administrator of the group, Azlan Mohd Shukri, 47, described the Prime Minister’s move in doing so as indirectly bringing him closer to the people, although some regarded Muhyiddin’s antic as petty and nothing to shout about.
“It is not that the previous prime minister is not good, All prime ministers have their own approach, but when Muhyiddin speaks or says something which many may think would not matter to him, it surprises them, and that somehow proves that he acknowledges the people’s efforts to fill their time at home during the MCO.
“There were times when he (Muhyiddin) dressed so casually when appearing on television to make announcements, in normal shirt, with folded sleeves which made the people feel closer to him, that he has been working tirelessly for the people,” he told Bernama.
Other than viral stories and postings by netizens, Muhyiddin also recognised YouTube sensation S. Pavithra, 28, and her husband, M. Sugu, 29, and surprised them with presents four days after Bernama wrote a story on them.
“We are very grateful, we never expect the Prime Minister would know about us and our cooking channel,” said Pavithra, whose Sugu Pavithra YouTube channel now has 626,000 subscribers.
Besides gifts, which included a tripod, a microwave oven, electric rice cooker and cooking products, from Muhyiddin, the couple also received a greeting card with a note saying: “With compliments from Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Keep up the good work. Just stay at home.”
Sugu Pavithra (pic) shared her happiness with netizens and it received various reactions, including from one Awie Amri, who wrote: “Siapa sayang PM terbaru kita like sikit” (Who loves our new PM, click like) and Muhamad Syafiq Ahmad Zainal, who posted a comment “Perdana Menteri kita sporting dan kelakar” (Our Prime Minister is sporting and funny).
Others who praised the prime minister included a user by the name of VB Creation, who wrote: “Despite of his tight schedule, (he) has come forward to provide essential tools to enhance/encourage her (Pavithra) efforts to lift up better lifestyle. No PM had done this before, you have created history where it shows you care very much for the nation. Big salutation! God bless you always beloved PM. Amen”.
When announcing additional measures under the Prihatin package for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) on April 6, Muhyiddin also brought smiles to the people when he said he was aware of people converting snippets of his speeches into a dance mix.
Rather than feeling annoyed, the prime minister went on to say that he is completely okay with it as it shows Malaysians’ creativity.
The rap remix “ke sana, ke sini” that incorporated Muhyiddin’s plea for the people to just stay at home was produced by Bass Agents, comprising two individuals, Nick Chia and Chia Khoo Hoong.
“We thought it might be funny incorporating the Prime Minister’s voice in our music to raise awareness,” they wrote on their Instagram page.
The prime minister also displayed his sense of humour when telling the people that he knew of husbands wearing their wife’s bat-like dresses, also of people riding bicycles in their house.
Although Muhyiddin mentioned them in his speech that was broadcast on television, the people could relate to it and made them feel closer to the prime minister.
“ I hope it’s nothing weird. That it’s just something you do to get over boredom during MCO,” Muhyiddin said.
On his 73rd birthday last May 15, Malaysians of all races, in a show of love for the prime minister, flooded his social media platforms with birthday greetings and well wishes.
Fatin Nazira Ammir Hamzah wrote “Happy birthday Abah…May Abah always be blessed by Allah and always in His protection. Continue to be strong in leading Malaysia”.
Lee Seong Boon wrote “Tq PM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Happy Birthday to you. God bless you abundantly”, while Mageswari Murugiah posted “Happy birthday Tan Sri, the best Prime Minister for the rakyat during this testing times”.
All these clearly show that Muhyiddin’s casual and friendly attitude, as well as his humour, have won him the hearts of the people of various races. Thank you Abah!
— BERNAMA
