At the receiving end of scorn over her tweet about socio-economic issues, which was perceived as a criticism of the government.
Treasury secretary-general Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah yesterday expressed surprise over Sheila’s griping.
“Why’s she complaining about the cost of living? What’s her income?” he told reporters.
Irwan said the government was doing a lot for the B40 group – households with an income of RM3,900 and below.
Irwan explained there was a difference between basic food prices and lifestyle cost.
He added people were complaining as they were living beyond their means.
“If you start taking into account all the luxurious things in your cost of living…that’s where people are complaining.”
In condemning Sheila, Azwan Ali, pro-government TV personality and elder brother of Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali, did not mince words
Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the Umno general assembly on Dec 6, he said: “Her whining will spoil the new generation. You are a major artiste. Successful. Has a Datuk title. Rich. You have millions of followers.
“Is this not because of the government? Go to hell!”
“She is influential. A diva should use ‘common sense’ and not get emotional. People respect her. By making such statements, it is suicidal.
“What she says won’t affect BN. Najib doesn’t need entertainers to win elections. Najib is too big a name,” he added.
Artiste group Karyawan said performers should stick to what they do best, entertaining others with their songs and films.
Artistes who want to get involved in politics should do so “properly”, it added, by joining a party and studying the issues in detail.
“Taking potshots at the government only lowers people’s respect for the artiste community,” Karyawan president Freddie Fernandez reportedly said.
Earlier, Umno information chief Annuar Musa said Sheila was out of her element and got her facts wrong.
“A lot of (her comments) are wrong…. This is not her expertise.”
However, another artiste group, Seniman, said all artistes had the right to air their opinions on social media as it was an individual platform.
“What was expressed by Sheila Majid is an individual right. Everyone has their own views,” Seniman president Zed Zaidi said.
Earlier report: Dec 6, Sheila Majid Laments Current Economic Issues