KUALA LUMPUR — ‘Pantun’ (Malay poem) proponents deputy finance ministers Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan and Steven Sim Chee Keong have made a comeback to share another jovial exchange commemorating Hari Malaysia today.
A video recording of a phone call between the two lawmakers started off with Sim, who is also DAP’s Bukit Mertajam MP, ringing up Ahmad to check in on him while the former is on a trip to Sarawak for the Budget 2024 tour.
After some chit chat, Sim then asks Ahmad to share a poem, following which Ahmad delivers a short four-verse rhyme on how Budget 2024 is being worked on while the nation celebrates its 60th Hari Malaysia.
Umno’s Pontian MP then jokingly calls on Sim to offer a rhyme of his own, causing an evidently flustered Sim to say that he will try to do so before going on to recite another rhyme in a similar literary fashion.
The duo ended the short clip by expressing their well wishes to citizens celebrating Malaysia Day today, adding: “May the unity of our three federations (Sabah, Sarawak and the Peninsular) remain strong as we continue to thrive together.”
Over in the comments section of the Sim’s Twitter post, netizens gave their thumbs up to the content, applauding the unity government leaders for upholding the national language in a cheerful and positive manner.
One user, @pklong_Z, said that the Finance Ministry staff are “lucky” to have the “awesome” duo as its figureheads.
Another user, @Hazwan_puzi, said that the video showcases how political differences have been set aside for the sake of unity as Malaysians.
During Merdeka Day celebrations on August 31, Ahmad and Sim had shared a video of a lighthearted poem battle, which received plaudits from netizens who praised them for the initiative. — September 16, 2023