Do not dismiss Nurul Izzah’s views, says Wan Azizah

(FMT) – Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail says her daughter Nurul Izzah’s criticism should be well received by the Pakatan Harapan government to further improve its performance.

She said Nurul Izzah’s views should not be dismissed outright, because the Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had echoed the same sentiments as the Permatang Pauh MP.

“The prime minister agreed with Nurul Izzah’s disappointment, so it is not a problem.

“Is it wrong? She didn’t mention misappropriation of funds, stealing money from the country or any other issues. We, as a government, should accept constructive criticism,” she said at the dinner and launch of the 2019 World Women’s Day.

Earlier, at Parliament, Nurul Izzah defended her statement calling Mahathir a “dictator”, saying she had used the term before.

“For the record, it is fact. I had said it before the general election and I used it during a Bersih rally.

“I don’t understand why saying this at a different forum, but containing the same message, becomes problematic now,” she said.

Nurul Izzah, in her interview with The Straits Times, had admitted being “broken-hearted” by the political developments in the country after the general election last year.

She was also dissatisfied with the crossover of former Umno MPs to Pakatan Harapan.

She said it was difficult to work with an “ex-dictator” (referring to Mahathir) who had caused so much damage in the past.