So, you know those reusable shopping bags that we use to put our groceries, knick-knacks and other odds and ends in? They come in many sizes and designs, which can be really convenient or even make a style statement. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it! Remember how Ikea inspired Balenciaga with their iconic shopping bags?
Anyway, it appears that a new design has hit the market in Malaysia with a rather bold statement that caught the eye of Alan Ridzuan, an executive committee member of Subang Umno Youth. According to NST, he was shopping at a mall in Petaling Jaya when he spotted plain shopping bags emblazoned with the phrase “Perdana Menteri Saya Memalukan” which literally translates to “My prime minister is embarrassing”. Wah, this fella damn brave!
He was walking around the mall when he saw the bags displayed on an unmanned table with a donation box placed next to them and a sign saying, “RM10 donation for each bag”.
Enraged, he proceeded to lodge a police report and informed them about the incident. He said, “On 11 August, at around 10am when I was shopping at the mall, I saw reusable shopping bags with the words “My prime minister is embarrassing me” being sold out in the open. I believe those words were aimed at defaming our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. I urge the authorities to investigate the person behind the sale of the bags.”
Ridzuan added, “It was a one-day sale. We want to know what was the purpose of this? Can (the mall’s) management respond to this? How can the management allow such an act to occur within its premises? We urge the management and police to investigate this matter.”
Of course, you can bet that netizens had their own comments about this issue. Some of them asked, “Where can I buy this bag? I want one,” while others said “What is wrong with having a different opinion?”
Meanwhile, there were those who condemned the seller’s actions and said, “This seller doesn’t deserve to be a Malaysian because they don’t respect our No. 1 leader.”
What do you think of these bags? Would you buy them?
Also read: Malaysian Netizen Jailed 24 Hours and Fined RM4,000 for Insulting PM Najib on FB