RAHMAN INVITES SHEILA MAJID TO BRIEFING ON THE ECONOMY
Rahman prepared to listen to her views on current issues
CELEBRITIES are free to comment on the country’s affairs, but they must be prepared to be criticised, just like anyone else, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said yesterday.
In a post on his Twitter account, Rahman, who is the minister in charge of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), invited Datuk Sheila Majid and other celebrities to the unit for a briefing on the nation’s economy.
“Maybe Persatuan Seniman can organise the visit. I will be delighted to be the host.”
Recently, Sheila came under the spotlight for her comments about the country’s economy and cost of living.
“It is not wrong for celebrities to comment about current affairs.
“But, like everyone else, be prepared to be criticised. Politics is not a one-way street.
“After all, in other countries, celebrities, comedians and even porn stars have a say in issues affecting their nations.
“Some even became politicians.”
However, he said, those international celebrities had a track record of being involved in issues that they were passionate about, compared with local celebrities, who “tweeted once or twice” and expected people to understand their motives.
Rahman, who claimed to be a big fan of Sheila, said he would listen to her or anyone with an honest view of current issues.
“But, I do hope she can engage her critics and articulate further the reasons why she said what she had said.
“Many celebrities were traumatised after being criticised harshly by Netizens and the opposition for a simple and honest photo with the prime minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak).
“Welcome to Malaysian politics!” he said.
Rahman invited the public to visit Expo Negaraku 2017 at Dataran Merdeka, organised by EPU, to understand what the government had done to make Malaysia a better place, which includes policies to make the cost of living more bearable.
Sheila’s personal assistant told the New Straits Times that the singer would not make any further comment on the matter.