KOTA KINABALU: The proposal to get Hollywood icon Robert de Niro to fly in and see the so-called progress of Malaysia is nothing but a theatrical stunt, said a Sabah opposition leader.
PKR’s Daniel John Jambun said he was curious why the actor and film director had been chosen to speak for Malaysia to the world.
He was referring to the idea expounded by Prime Minister Najib Razak’s wife, Rosmah Mansor.
Rosmah told the local media that she had met de Niro while in New York and had invited him to come to Malaysia.
According to her, people outside Malaysia have an information misconception about Malaysia, especially in New York, and this needed to be addressed.
Rosmah said de Niro, who had attended a function where Najib and she were present, “saw the other side of Malaysia.”
She quoted the movie star as saying, “You are very progressive, you are very engaging. I would like to come to your country.”
Rosmah said that she also told the people in New York that Malaysia was not destroying its forests.
According to her, New Yorkers also think that Malaysia was a breeding-ground for drugs, human trafficking and terrorists.
How much are we paying him?
However, John Jambun asked why were those behind the idea so confident that de Niro would only want to see the good side of Malaysia.
“Are they thinking of limiting de Niro to big cities like Kuala Lumpur and show him all the glitter of a metropolis?
“If they bring him to rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak, I would be glad to show him the progress that we have here,” he said sarcastically.
The PKR leader said Rosmah should not be too confident that de Niro would be impressed by what he sees, hears and reads about Malaysia.
“I have my doubts that de Niro would be impressed and would tell the world that Malaysia is such a fantastic country imbued with all the goodness from good governance that respects human rights and practices freedom of speech and association and distributes its wealth fairly to its people.
“Unless of course, you pay him good money to be a public relations spokesman… that is another issue altogether. How much would we pay for this kind of stunt?” he asked.
Citing the international public relations firm Apco Worldwide, John Jambun said: "The people know that the ruling government is spending hundreds of millions on PR.”
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