KUALA LUMPUR: Ipoh Timor MP Howard Lee has taken intense hits from netizens for his "arrogance" during an interview with health portal CodeBlue with many describing him as being rude.
Lee was interviewed by CodeBlue chief editor Boo Su-Lyn last Tuesday to discuss ongoing public health issues.
Responding to some questions in a jeering manner, Lee asked Boo if he "looked like a minister" when questioned how long healthcare workers should wait before walkout prevention measures are put into place.
Lee also refused to answer other questions on the grounds they were "emotive".
"Somebody please sign him up for PR (public relations) 101 already," says user @Heng_09 in the video of the interview posted on CodeBlue's Twitter page.
"I don't get why he's condescending and rude throughout. Like who are you again?" asked user @zaikha09.
"And throughout this short video, you do look snobbish. I was one of those who are looking forward to your service as an MP. But with this attitude, this is a bit disappointing," user @imval28 complained.
"Please don't take the interview if you are unable to answer questions. We know this is a difficult question, but there are many diplomatic ways to divert if you do not wish to answer it. You are bullying the interviewer for her questions," user @johnnylooi advised.
"Rude, cocky, condescending, cringe. Overall, unprofessional," said @rahmahghazali.
However, not all of the netizens were against Lee for his attitude throughout the interview.
User @munchkkin47 said that the interviewer had pressed the same matter multiple times which annoys Lee.
"Please post the full video, not just snippets that put others in a bad light," the user said.
"It is not wrong to refuse to answer that kind of question. Of course, he could have replied more politely but we don't know what happened before this," user @david69723944 said.
The user then advised the interviewer to ask the ministers instead and rephrase the questions asked to get a better response.
"And knowing the tone of the interviewer's tweets all this time, I am not surprised why Howard acted in such manners," user @MuradHanum said, replying to the tweet.
CodeBlue also shared transcripts of the interview on its website.
Boo: "How long would you urge healthcare workers to wait for even just one solution before launching a strike?"
Lee: "What was the question?"
Boo: "Um, so…"
Lee: "I don't entertain emotive questions, because that's an emotive question."
Boo: "No, no, no. It's – how long do you expect them?"
Lee: "No, it is. I'm the recipient of the question. I feel it's an emotive question, so I'm not going to answer that."
Boo: "You don't want to answer that?"
Lee: "What do you mean, how long do I want them to wait?"
Boo: "For solutions."
Lee: "Well, there are solutions; it's the implementation of the solutions, right?"
Boo: "That's what I mean."
Lee: "Exactly, you didn't ask that."
Boo: "Okay, so how long do you want them to wait for the implementation of the solutions?"
Lee: "I would like them to wait for the government to look into all the necessary measures to ensure all stakeholders are taken into account, into policy, before they strike."
Boo: "So how long is that?"
Lee: "Do I look like a minister? Do I look like I'm an executive? Do I look like I have the power to dictate?"
Lee in a Twitter post said that he refused to answer questions by those "fishing for a response" by emotionalising and weaponising the future of healthcare workers, the welfare of their families, and the health of their patients.
"I've been consistent in highlighting the problems faced by healthcare workers. How the question is asked is the manner I respond."