~ MamakTalk ~: Top 12 Malaysia Expert Commentary About The ‘Mr Bean’ Ahmad Maslan 3 Jobs Remarks

Datuk Ahmad Maslan said today that he has three jobs as Pontian MP, deputy minister and Umno information chief, in defence of his statement that Malaysians should have two jobs to tackle rising living costs.

Ahmad also said it was not unusual to have two jobs, providing the example of running an online business besides having a day job.

“I have three jobs: Member of Parliament, Deputy Minister, Umno information chief. There are already many in Malaysia who do #2Kerja. Working hard to find halal income,” Ahmad tweeted from his @ahmadmaslan Twitter account, using the Malay hashtag for “two jobs”.

“If you have a day job, you can run an online business at night and during weekends as long as your performance is not affected; it can increase income,” the deputy international trade and industry minister added.

He also pointed out that rural folk are used to working two jobs, saying that they farm in the morning and run a grocery shop in the evening, or tap rubber in the morning and farm in the evening, or cut grass in the morning and build houses in the evening.

1.Harith Iskandar

Posts Are Not Equivalent To Having More Than One Job

A civil servant’s various posts are not equivalent to having more than one job, popular television personality Harith Iskandar said today after deputy minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan declared that he has “three jobs”.

Harith wrote on his Facebook page that he is a comedian, emcee, writer, actor, coach and director, but that it does not mean he has six jobs.

“It means I do 6 different things. In the context of a government servant you could say I hold 6 different posts,” Harith said.

“A job is something you do every day all day. So for a person to have TWO jobs that would mean they work minimum 2 x 8 hour shifts a day. That’s 16 working hours. A day,” he added.

2. Tengku Razaleigh ( UMNO Gua Musang MP )

There Are No Job Opportunities At All

There are not enough jobs to go around as it is, said Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in response to his Umno colleague’s advice for Malaysians to get another job.

Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan had recently made the suggestion so that Malaysians could cope with the rising cost of living.

“The problem we face now is that, there are no job opportunities at all ” – Tengku Razaleigh

3. Lim Kit Siang ( DAP )

Ahmad Maslan Would Put Professional Comedians Such As Harith At Risk Of Losing Their Jobs

DAP’s Lim Kit Siang joined comedian Harith Iskandar in mocking Datuk Ahmad Maslan’s definition of a job, saying the yardstick used by the deputy minister would make Datuk Seri Najib Razak the most overworked person in Malaysia.

Echoing Harith who yesterday disputed Ahmad’s assertion that his three posts as deputy minister, MP and Umno information chief meant he worked three jobs, Lim said the prime minister in comparison has too many to recall.

“He is prime minister, finance minister (at one time, even trebling in Cabinet as minister for women), Umno president, Barisan Nasional president, MP for Pekan, going to be chairman of the highly-criticised National Security Council, chairman of the advisory board of the much-maligned 1MDB — and chairman of countless government-related boards and commissions, a list which Najib himself would not be able to recite offhand.

“Does this mean, going by Ahmad’s definition, that Najib is the most overworked and underpaid person in the country?” Lim asked in a statement today.

He went to deride Ahmad further by saying that the latter’s comments, which were roundly ridiculed, would put professional comedians such as Harith at risk of losing their jobs to ministers who were able to amuse Malaysians.

Malay Mail

4. A. Sivanesan ( DAP )

Ahmad Maslan Ignorant of Labour Laws

Labour bureau chief A. Sivanesan said an employee in the public sector had to get prior written approval from the head of department.

“That failure will result in the employee being subjected to disciplinary action,” he said in a statement today.

Sivanesan, who practises industrial and employment law, said in the private sector there were several cases in which employees were dismissed after being found working for other employers after working hours.

“Over and above this, I believe the deputy minister is wholly unaware of restraint of trade clause which is found in most letters of offer or company manuals,” he said.

Sivanesan, who is Sungkai assemblyman, said employees could not indulge in another similar trade, which amounted to gross misconduct and warranted dismissal.He said under the Employment Act 1955, an employee in the private sector was not allowed to work more than eight hours in one day and not more than 48 hours in a week.

“The principle behind this is that the employee gets adequate rest to be productive in his work,” he said, adding that it was also to give the worker time to spend with loved ones.

Sivanesan said Malaysian law currently did not allow employees to have two employers at one time.He said Ahmad Maslan had been ignorant that a private sector employee would not be compensated if covered when working for an employer who was not contributing to the Social Security Organisation. Sivanesan said he was surprised that Human Resources Minister Datuk Richard Riot and his senior officials preferred to remain silent on Ahmad Maslan’s unfounded remarks.

“They should come out and correct Ahmad Maslan who has transgressed the function and role of the ministry,” he said.

The Malaysian Insider

5. Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan ( Malaysian Employer Federation Executive Director )

Most Private Sector Organisations Had Provisions Prohibiting Employees From Taking Up Another Job

Malaysian Employer Federation executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan said most private sector organisations had provisions prohibiting employees from taking up another job.

“I would say this is reasonable as most employers do not want staff with a second job to be exhausted when performing their normal job,” he told Malay Mail.

6. Datuk Azih Muda ( Cuepacs President )

Cuepacs Would Not Encourage Civil Servants Taking On Another Job

Cuepacs president Datuk Azih Muda said the organisation would not encourage civil servants taking on another job as this would make difficult to gauge productivity.

“The rules allow public sector employees to hold a second job provided it did not contribute to one’s pension. But the technicality aside, we not not encourage the practice as we would not know to which job the individual focused on,” he said.

Azih was also concerned about how civil servants would cope with working long hours as there was a need to balance one’s professional and personal life. – Malay Mail

7. N. Gopal Krishnam ( MTUC Secretary-General )

Second Job Would Take A Toll On Health And Productivity

MTUC secretary-general N. Gopal Krishnam said Ahmad Maslan’s proposal was impractical as a second job would take a toll on health and productivity.

“Holding two jobs may lead to a negative impact on employees who may have less quality time with their family. This could very well lead to social problems in the long run.’ – Malay Mail

8. Zuraida Kamaruddin ( Wanita PKR Chief )

Ordinary People Don’t Make RM34,000 Holding Three Jobs Like You

It is Very Embarrassing For Malaysia To Have The Likes of Ahmad Maslan As Part of The Country’s Leadership

The Wanita PKR chief also rubbished Datuk Ahmad Maslan’s boast about holding three “jobs”, noting that this was out of privilege rather than an actual necessity to survive.

Zuraida then cited the case of one “Atan”, whom she said worked three actual jobs as lorry driver, burger stall operator and vegetable farmer — all to earn just RM2,000 a month, far less than the RM16,000 Ahmad makes as MP and RM18,168 as deputy minister.

“To sum up, Ahmad Maslan’s logic is questionable and he appears to be disorientated. It is very embarrassing for Malaysia to have the likes of Ahmad Maslan as part of the country’s leadership when the objective is to achieve a developed nation status by 2020.

“Asking the people to take on multiple jobs and cook their own food, grow their own vegetables, ride the bicycle and avoid highways with tolls to save cost does not help at all especially when the rich ministers indulge themselves in extravagant lifestyles, holidays, expensive personal items like cars, watches, handbags and lavish condominiums,” she added.

Malay Mail

9. Nik Nazmi ( PKR Youth Chief )

We Recommend For Any Minister, Like Ahmad Maslan, To Remain Silent

“Not only was his suggestion not constructive as a solution from our country’s leaders, it also came as an insult to the people who are facing increasing pressures from the realities of life.

Nik Nazmi also mocked Ahmad for claiming that his three posts as deputy minister, MP and Umno information chief meant he worked three jobs, saying this showed Malaysia’s ministers cannot tell the difference between a job and a political post.

“We recommend for any minister, like Ahmad Maslan, to remain silent and not hurt others if they are incapable of contributing ideas or policies that really help the people,” he said.

Malay Mail

10. Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad ( Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club Chairman )

The Move Would Impact The Welfare Of The Families

Fellow Umno MP and Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad was one of those who pooh-poohed International Trade and Industry Ministry deputy minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan’s idea.

The move would impact the welfare of the families, Shahrir was quoted as saying in a news portal. – The Star

11. Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin ( Perlis MUFTI )

Ahmad Maslan Should Offer Solutions

Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said ministers should find solutions to help the rakyat, not make suggestions that would further burden them.

“A minister should be someone who is level-headed, wise and competent in solving the problems of the rakyat and the country,” he wrote on Facebook.

“If a wise mind and competency is not required to become a minister, then what is so special about the post that they receive a salary and various special privileges?” he said without naming anyone.

12. Shahbudin Husin ( Political Analyst )

Many People In Umno Are Convinced That Ahmad Maslan Can Appear To Be Smart But Only If He Doesn’t Open His Mouth

Ahmad Maslan, in a bid to show off that he was capable of handing three jobs at one time – Deputy Minister, MP, and Umno Information Chief – has once against put his foot in the mouth, said a political analyst in his latest blog posting. “Ahmad once again has shown in public that he’s not a very smart fellow although he claims to have CGPA 3.85 to back up his belief that “saya bukanlah bodoh sangat” (I am not that stupid.).

“The three posts held by Ahmad aren’t anything to brag about. There are others who besides holding a key post in a GLC, are also directors of sometimes tens of subsidiary companies.”

Shahbudin Husin, the analyst, wonders whether these people can also be proud like Ahmad for holding several positions and multitasking. “Many people in Umno are convinced that Ahmad can appear to be smart but only if he doesn’t open his mouth and say something. No one can convince anyone, or the public, on their smartness by waving paper qualifications.”

“If he keeps a dignified silence, the people might think that he’s actually a very smart fellow who has no time for petty things. His hair is slick and always wet, his face looks clean all the time. So, he can pull it off as a person who the people can trust and place their confidence in, but only if he doesn’t open his mouth in public and say anything.”

Unfortunately, said Shahbudin, once Ahmad opens his mouth; all doubts about him are removed. “He stands exposed for the entire world to see. He can’t show his smartness through work.”

Ahmad, said Shahbudin, does not know how to differentiate between a job and position. “What he has at the moment — Deputy Minister, MP, and Umno Information Chief – are positions and not jobs. It’s the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak who has given him the two positions. He was chosen as MP, another position, by the people. These positions can all be carried out at the same time.”

“Many are willing to accept more than one position but few are willing to hold two jobs. Not many are willing to slave away the whole day in a government department as a clerk and sell burgers, for example, at night.”

Free Malaysia Today