Yesterday’s cases reached a staggering figure that sent shockwaves throughout the country – 691.
Four deaths were also recorded yesterday including a one-year-old baby who died at the Semporna Hospital.
Dukacita dimaklumkan, 4 kes kematian dilaporkan hari ini melibatkan kesemua warganegara.
— KKMalaysia?? (@KKMPutrajaya) October 6, 2020
KKM mengucapkan takziah kepada ahli keluarga mereka.
Rujuk kenyataan akhbar bagi laporan penuh setiap kes kematian. pic.twitter.com/hESEjU4R0b
During his speech, Muhyiddin admitted that the rise in cases were due to the recent state elections in Sabah where the SOPs weren’t practiced tightly and stressed that there was no such thing as double standards amongst politicians.
He then repeated mostly what had been said earlier by the Health Director-General, Tan Sri Noor Hisham and ended his speech with a remark unfathomable to Malaysians – “Maaflah jika Abah ini mula menggunakan rotan!” (Sorry if Abah starts using the cane!).
Malaysians agreed it was the cringiest line to ever come out from a Prime Minister to date, but mostly was furious over the ‘joke’ that was ill timed.
Following the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths, netizens felt that it was insensitive of the Prime Minister to be making jokes instead of offering condolences or reassurance to the people.
Kalau dia buat spontan, aku paham. Like understandable. Yalah benda spontan ni kadang2 kita boleh merapu atau tak fikir bila cakap. So taklah cringe sangat tapi rupanya.
— Datuk Jahat Hensem (@datukhensem) October 6, 2020
HAHAHAHAHAHA AKU TAK BOLEH LAH HAHAHAHAHAHAH https://t.co/G7CioAyYTi
The "Mak ck Kiah" thingy made the rounds because of how relatable it was to the rakyat. Thus earning Muhyiddin the title 'Abah'
— Serendipity (@wowbultaorune) October 6, 2020
Today, "Abah guna rotan" statement failed miserably because of how insensitive it was to the rakyat. Thus earning him #MuhyiddinOut
"Maaf, jika Abah mula menggunakan rotan".
— Faizal Hamssin (@faizalhamssin) October 6, 2020
Come on, PM's speechwriter. A 1 y.o. baby just died of Covid. Case count reached all-time high time today. People are angry, anxious, afraid. So much uncertainty over the future.
This isn't the time for your Abah joke. It's getting old.
i just wished our prime minister was more sympathetic & empathised with the fact that a baby’s life as well as three others were lost today instead of making stupid abah jokes.
— freyr (@sunfloweraidil) October 6, 2020
messages of love, support & condolences would’ve been greatly appreciated to those that need it.
A baby died today. Her parents won’t get to put her to sleep tonight, won’t be able to sing her songs or bounce her in their arms. A baby died today. More people will die in the coming weeks. People, not numbers. PLEASE mask up & send prayers/good thoughts to our front-liners ?
— Melati Nungsari ???????? (@melatinungsari) October 6, 2020
1 year old baby just died and he thought it’s funny to add that abah pakai rotan bit?
— 4M30W (@4M30W) October 6, 2020
Today, a one-year old baby died from COVID-19 and there are 691 new infections.
— Mifzal Mohammed (@mifzalmohd) October 6, 2020
Also today, our Prime Minister called himself "abah" and joked about needing to "rotan" us during a national address on the COVID-19 crisis.
We need to do better than this.
“Kami akui ada antara kami tidak patuh SOP. For that, we are truly sorry. Rakyat safety should be our priority.”
— KNB (@nizambakeri) October 7, 2020
Is that so hard to say? I mean, we will still be angry, but it is wayyy better than that insensitive rotan remark. There is literally a dead baby, man. #MuhyiddinOut
it has been 8 months since Covid19 came to Malaysia and all we get from our PM today is "abah rotan nanti." mind u, a one year old baby died today in sabah. the death could have been avoided if there is no double standard and changes in SOPs to suit their tekak. #MuhyiddinOut
— ??? meringue ??? (@neur__) October 6, 2020
A baby died today and you ended your speech with your Abah will Rotan joke? Shame on you @MuhyiddinYassin. Malaysia deserve better.#NotMyPM #KlusterMenteri
— Kerol Aje (@keroaje) October 6, 2020
Imagine how the family members of the baby that died today due to Covid-19 would’ve felt with our Prime Minister saying things like “Maaf jika abah mula menggunakan rotan.”
— Phavinram (@phavin11) October 6, 2020
A prime minister who does not know what to say during such a period.
today, an innocent baby passed away due to covid-19. A BABY. and ur abah somewhat made a joke about rotan and whatnot. lastly, "tiada double standard" ???
— junhui (@syakirinfr) October 6, 2020
A baby passed away. 691 cases. And you still can make a joke? Rotan urself and all the menteri first.
— Hanim ｡˚۰˚☽˚ (@animdavila) October 6, 2020
One baby passed away, and rotan joke is the appropriate one at this time. The audacity mate..
— fikrimmanaf (@fikrimmanaf) October 6, 2020
A baby died.... And you joked about using a rotan... How heartless can you be? A family just lost their child
— Just Shobs (@shobayyamani) October 6, 2020
Our government in a nutshell
An 1 year old baby just passed away in Sabah, our PM Muhyiddin thinks its a great time to make a joke calling himself abah and that he going to rotan himself.
— ay to the nal to the phissure (@GonAynal) October 6, 2020
Some of you may think that this was said spontaneously, but unfortunately you can find it in his official speech text on Muhyiddin Yassin's Facebook page.
We hope the PM and his speechwriter will be more sensitive or at least have some empathy with everything that’s been going on in the country.
Our condolences to the families who lost their loved ones due to COVID-19.
