Although politicians are not exactly celebrities, it appears that in Malaysia, their popularity and status are very similar.
Just last month, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob found himself being greeted by a huge crowd lining up at the airport terminal after he had just returned to Malaysia after his overseas trip.
In a similar instance, Plantations and Commodities Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin saw herself being swarmed by a crowd at KLIA2 following her return from a work visit to Turkey.
This is in light of the recent announcement of her resignation from her role as the Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities as well as her leaving BERSATU to join Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM).
In a press conference at the airport terminal, Zuraida acknowledged that her status is still not finalised with neither PBM nor the government and that she is not ready to announce her latest political platform, as she still needs to hold discussions.
The return of a hero?
Zuraida’s return to the motherland saw plenty of eager PBM supporters to greet her at the airport terminal. The minister was even gifted a flower garland and bouquet in purple as well as a banner hailing her as “Ibu Bangsa Malaysia”, or “Mother of the Malaysian People”.
However, it appears that the PBM fan’s eager welcome did not go down well with plenty of Malaysians who took to social media to express their disapproval.
“Stop idolising these politicians… they are to serve us… not the other way around,” commented a user.
Some users made fun and jokes out of the banner labelling her as the “Mother of the Malaysian People”.
Meanwhile, some users claimed that the crowd was paid for and that it was simply a publicity stunt organised by Zuraida in order to appear to be popular.
Watch the video below:
What do you think of the gathering of crowds during her return. Is it over the top? Let us know in the comments.
Also read: “A welcome home party is a plain joke” – PM Accused of Paying For Crowds to Welcome His Return
