KUALA LUMPUR: The opposition’s claims that the country's economy is on a downturn can be challenged by the high rate of obesity in Malaysia.
Datuk Bung Moktar Radin( BN-Kinabatangan) said the high rate of obesity in Malaysia shows that its people are prosperous and well fed.
"The opposition leader says that many do not have the opportunity to work and lack a healthy diet but I think this is fake news.
"There is no such thing. What I see is that our nation is blessed with an abundance of food," he said when debating the motion of thanks on the Royal Address in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Bung Moktar also pointed out that food was so abundant here that most Malaysians overeat, which has led to high rates of obesity and a host of related illnesses, even resulting in death.
"Many die from overeating while many are also obese and contract diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases because they eat meat every day," he said, to which the house burst into laughter.
He offered to take opposition MPs on trips to countries where food was scarce and its people are forced to scavenge for food.
Bung Moktar said he was compelled to speak his piece after Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR-Permatang Pauh) had claimed that the rakyat was suffering.