Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau has drawn brickbats for purportedly posting an insensitive tweet about contesting the Pulai parliamentary seat, shortly after its incumbent MP Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub was laid to rest.
Screenshots of the now-deleted tweet at 12.37pm on Monday (July 24) appear to show Lau posting: “Is it okay for me to contest in Pulai?”
Internet users were quick to chide his actions.
Among those sharing Lau’s deleted tweet was Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan.
“The late Salahuddin was just laid to rest. The Gerakan president is already tweeting this. You are not getting away,” he tweeted.
User @bumilangit posted the screenshot with the caption “Do you think by deleting, the problem can be solved”?
Another user @scarredpotatoes tweeted: “He (Salahuddin) has just passed yet you are still playing politics. Can’t you show some respect?”
Another user, @Iaimawwnnn said: “Don’t say it was the (page) admin’s mistake when you manage it yourself,” the tweet read.
Similarly, user @farhanzulkefly shared a screenshot of the tweet, questioning how the Gerakan president could say such a thing when the late Salahuddin was just buried.
“Will PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin reprimand him? Your friend is being rude,” the tweet read in reference to Gerakan being a party under the Perikatan Nasional coalition which also comprises PAS and Bersatu.
Meanwhile, Lau says his Twitter account was hacked and denies posting any insensitive tweet about running for the Pulai parliamentary seat.
“The admin was very shocked to find a tweet at 12.37pm making the remark. The tweet did not come from Datuk Dominic or official account admins.
“Admins are attempting to trace the cause of the incident with new security protocols, including changing the passwords of all social media accounts,” he said in a tweet on Monday (July 24).
Lau also said he would lodge a police report.