Criticism snowballs for Amanah over MP’s ski holiday pic while floods rise back home

An Amanah MP has come under fire on social media after uploading a picture of himself apparently on holiday in Iran as his constituency struggles to deal with unprecedented floods back home.

Hundreds of internet users slammed Hulu Langat MP Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus for posting the picture of himself at a height of 5,000 feet above sea level at the Tochal ski resort on Dec 18.

User Muammar Qaddafi said Hasanuddin need not bother coming back to the country.

“Amanah doesn’t need to field him as a candidate anymore either,” he said in the comment section of Hasanuddin’s post.

Facebook user Eddie Jaafar meanwhile wrote: “Don’t worry YB, the people will look after the people, you take care of Kashmir.”

Still others urged the Amanah vice-president to return home immediately to fulfil his responsibilities as an elected representative.

They also expressed disappointment, saying Hasanuddin appeared to be prioritising matters overseas over the voters in his constituency.

Checks by MalaysiaNow showed that Hasanuddin later took the photo down and posted an explanation in its stead.

He said he had made plans to go overseas before the floods hit.

“I am unable to help as I am currently on a mission to Turkey, Pakistan and Tehran for which I was appointed by the Parliament speaker,” he said.

“The invitation from the Parliaments of Pakistan and Iran were made in my capacity as a member of Malaysia’s Parliamentary Friendship Group.”

Hasanuddin said he had met the president and speakers of Azad, Jammu and Kashmir as well as several Pakistan MPs in Islamabad to discuss charity and housing projects for Kashmir refugees.

He said he was also following the flood developments in Hulu Langat and was trying to book the earliest flight home.

“I have instructed the staff at the Hulu Langat parliamentary public service centre to extend aid to those in need,” he said.

“I am also in constant communication with the Civil Defence Department and am trying to book a flight home as quickly as possible.”