Interviewing the gentleman who is arguably Malaysia’s most iconic, former, living-leader (sorry, Badawi, you too k?) would be the scoop of a lifetime for any budding journalist.
It’s the kind of thing that would have you study-up on your terminology and geo-politics, when presented with a one-on-one Facebook live with Dr Tun Mahathir Mohamad.
Many are saying that host slash actress slash model slash supposed law graduate Nur Fathia Latiff has a lot of homework to do, and are blaming her for the panned social media interview.
Over 80,000 tuned in to hear what the government detractor had to say about the latest salacious details leaked over 1MDB, as well as the recent buzz over a possible role as prime ministerial candidate for the opposition.
Instead her questions ranged from the innocuously pedestrian “Did you have a part to play in the design of KLCC?”, to the outlandish and naïve, “Who told you all that 1MDB information?”
The 46-minute interview also saw Fathia cut off the former PM’s answer to 1MBDB to ask the 92-year old what “whistle-blower” meant.
Others were upset that she ignored pressing social issues like the implementation of 6% GST, a cost that hit regular citizens hard over the last year.
Facebook user, Husna Murad, called the host tone-deaf to the common-man’s plight. She wrote that, “Fathia’s questions are childlike. Easy for people who are well-to-do to go shopping even though the economy is down. Try thinking of the fate of those who are unemployed, housewives and orphans.”
Others were succinct in their disapproval, writing “host can stop.” Others attacked her as “uneducated,” and asked whether she understood national issues when she compared Malaysia with Japan, saying that they were very different countries.
When you sit down with a nonagenarian on social media, you expect them to make the fumbles. Looks like Dr M can still teach us a thing or two, including what “whistle-blower” means.
