SAN FRANCISCO: Khairy Jamaluddin's jibe that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had some half past six ministers in the government, has drawn a sharp rebuke from Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
The government spokesman said Khairy may have an old, running tiff with Tourism, Arts and Culture minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, but the former cabinet minister's half past six statement was unbecoming.
Fahmi said while the unity government - which will mark its first year in power next week, may have its shortcomings, any assessment (of the cabinet) should be done professionally and impartially.
"When he (Khairy) was in the administration, was it a half past seven Cabinet?"
"I know we may not be perfect but neither is he. So let us assess the matter professionally and impartially.
"I am supportive of the generational endgame bill but before we introduce anything we must ensure everything is done properly," he said.
Elaborating on the issue of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 - commonly referred to as the generational endgame (GEG) bill which has sparked the row between Khairy and Tiong, Fahmi said the former health minister could have tabled in before the dissolution of parliament in 2022.
However, he said Khairy failed to do so and the government was now merely following the advise of the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) to further scrutinise the bill and tie up the loose ends before it is tabled.
On the general perception that some ministers were really not up to the mark, Fahmi said it was vital to look at the challenges faced by the ministries instead of just focusing on the individuals.
"It is fair to say that there are some who need to work harder and smarter...I don't disagree on that.
"However, you can also have a good minister but there may be other problems there...then you will still face issues," he said.
Nevertheless, Fahmi said the unity government had achieved much over the past year despite all the domestic and global challenges it faced.
It was reported that Khairy had called out Tiong for seemingly being ignorant about the link between smoking and cancer, and questioning the GEG.
He also questioned Tiong's competence as a Cabinet member, after the Bintulu Member of Parliament made a scathing attack on Khairy, describing the latter as the worst health minister.
Tiong said Khairy had failed to prove that smoking causes cancer before introducing the bill.
In response, Khairy questioned Tiong's competence and said the minister's remarks reflected badly on Anwar.
"It's 2023 and there's still a minister who questions the link between smoking and cancer," Khairy said in a series of posts on Instagram.
"(This was) said by a member of the Madani Cabinet. Honestly, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, what kind of half-past-six ministers have you got?"
He also posted a screenshot of an article by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which stated that smoking can cause cancer "almost anywhere" in the body.
"(This is from) the CDC in the US. This is not empty talk in Bintulu coffeeshops," Khairy said.
Tiong in his attack on Khairy, said the former health minister should not have blamed others after introducing the bill, which he described as unconstitutional and unenforceable, containing ill-prepared measures.
The GEG bill seeks to ban smoking among those born after 2007 and restricts the sale of tobacco products to that age group.
The bill came into recent scrutiny after a report that Attorney-General Datuk Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh had deemed a provision in the bill to be unconstitutional, for violating the article on equality before the law.
Khairy had blamed three government figures, whom he did not name, for causing setbacks to the bill.
However, Tiong said it was unwarranted for Khairy to blame other ministers over purported defects in the GEG bill.