I wasn’t cursing the PM, vendor at Ramadan bazaar insists

A drinks vendor at the Ramadan bazaar in Precint 3, Putrajaya, today denied allegations by Selangor Barisan Nasional information chief Isham Jalil that he had cursed at Muhyiddin Yassin while the prime minister was visiting the bazaar yesterday.

Faisal Zaini, who sells mango juice, said his shout had been only a “trademark” call.

“I had no intention of saying anything about Tan Sri,” Faisal, a former member of the military, said, referring to Muhyiddin. “In fact, I enjoyed it when Tan Sri passed by because it had been a long time since I greeted him.

“My trademark is like this because since I was a soldier until I was a civilian worker, I still continued with life.”

Isham, who was also Najib Razak’s special officer during his time as prime minister, had uploaded a video showing Muhyiddin visiting the Ramadan bazaar in Putrajaya.

In the video, Faisal is heard calling out to attract more customers to his stall. However, Isham had interpreted his shouts as an insult to the prime minister.

“People complained at the Ramadan bazaar in Presint 3, Putrajaya, yesterday when the prime minister walked past.

“Perhaps the prime minister and the government should pay attention to really listen to what the person was shouting,” he said in a post on Facebook. “Listen to the voices and the groans of the people.”

Zulfazli, a worker at Faisal’s stall, insisted that Isham’s post was slander.

“What has gone viral on social media is all slander,” he added. “We were not referring to the prime minister.”