YOURSAY | 'Soft drinks today, billion ringgit projects tomorrow.'

Syed Saddiq did meet Vincent Tan, says tycoon's son

Anonymous_1543574477: It is a big joke for businesspeople to ask a politician - indeed, a government minister - to promote his products.

Advertise your products and pay for the advertisement. This is Malaysia Baru. Don’t you have any shame?

Stop your nonsense and do not criticise the young minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman for not promoting your products.

Ex-PJ: Syed Saddiq - a minister performing the duties of a soft drink salesperson.

Just a Malaysian: Selling bottled drinks is a very tough business. Many people are attracted by the perceived high margin due to low product cost. But few fail to realise that the real cost comes from building a brand franchise in the mind of the consumer.

You can put your drinks in all retail outlets and if there is no consumer offtake, it will fail.

The entrepreneur Azri Zahier Azmi is no consumer marketer, he is just a simple-minded businessperson waiting for the government to perform miracles.

Headhunter: Doesn't sound like he deserves help. For RM192, he thinks he is entitled to be given a business opportunity that could make him a millionaire?

Honestly, I don't think he's cut out for business. 7-Eleven is going to find him a troublemaker if they do business with him.

Harry Mou: A blatant abuse of power, the businessperson Vincent Tan is being "forced" to accept a rubbish drink to be placed in 7-Eleven stores.

Bersatu, please stop acting like immoral PAS/Umno.

The Analyser: But isn’t this corruption? When a politician uses his status to promote a commercial interest?

Regardless of how the action might be swaddled in the cotton wool of righteousness, it is still corruption. Soft drinks today, billion-ringgit projects tomorrow.

Shovelnose: Syed Saddiq must not pander to the business cases at all, for where will he draw the line between the government and the commercial world?

Accepting the 48 bottles should have been a no-no in the first place - take a leaf out of DAP's code of ethics.

Whether you've acted rightly or not, you have allowed yourself to be tainted by this type of act for favours.

Can Pakatan Harapan learn quicker as a new government? Your first anniversary will be up soon and if you don't keep up with times, the next moment you'll awake to GE15.

Leman: What is a minister doing promoting specific products to specific business chains? Save your political capital for more meaningful endeavours.

Sinan Belawan: It is not the function of the youth and sports minister to promote, market or even whisper to a tycoon, in this case, to Vincent Tan to sell local products.

It is an abuse of power. It is up to MACC to investigate if there was any personal gain involved.

Billythekid: Will the prime minister apply the 'rule of law' in this case? Firstly, the youth and sports minister involves himself in promoting someone's business.

Secondly, the appropriate minister, i.e. entrepreneur development minister, should be informed and alerted that the poor youth businesspersons are having a bad time getting 7-Eleven stores to sell their Malaysian-made products.

I Cannot Call Myself Anonymous: In first world countries, this is considered bribery, cronyism and conflict of interest - these are vilified.

In Bolehland, it is business as usual. Tsk, tsk. Youngsters, where have you been since May 9?

Kita Anak Malaysia: Market your own. Make your own sales. Why the need to get politicians’ help?

Rippoh2016: Wake up and smell the roses. Syed Saddiq's political platform before and after GE14 has always been about anti-corruption and anti-political patronage.

If you run a business by expecting free promotion from just sending RM192 worth of product samples, then just close shop.

Wan Azizah defends Syed Saddiq over promotion of ministry products

Prudent: Hahaha! With a billionaire tycoon, it's usually "I help you, you help me". Not to forget the 'gratefulness' of the entrepreneurs whose products he promoted.

Syed Saddiq should only promote sports, which is his portfolio. There is already another ministry to help the entrepreneurs.

Anonymous 770241447347646: Ministers should stop promoting any product except the nation's resources.

Promoting a personal product might lead to misunderstanding and also people might think that you have a personal interest.

Kahlil Gibran: Why is this lady defending him? A wrong is a wrong and there can be no exceptions. How does she know there was no underhand deal?

The Axman: Asking Vincent Tan to sell more local products is good. That's one of your roles to promote local industry. But asking him to sell Hausboom products specifically is a no-go. Simple.

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