AYER KEROH: The Facebook post by Masjid Tanah member of parliament Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin allegedly showing Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh sleeping during a State Legislative Assembly sitting is unethical.
State Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Communications Committee chairman Datuk Fairul Nizam Roslan said the post was made with ill intent and aimed to tarnish the image and dignity of the chief minister.
"The accusation made by the person who recorded and uploaded the video is not true.
"Those of us at the assembly saw that he (Rauf) was not asleep. He may have dozed off briefly due to fatigue.
"He is very hardworking. He personally monitored the rehearsal for the New Year's Eve celebration until late last night. He was back in his office early this morning for the session.
"His dedication and far-sighted vision should not be repaid with baseless accusations based on a short clip recorded from a distance. It does not in any way prove that the chief minister was sleeping during the assembly."
He urged the state assembly to control observers more strictly, including banning mobile phones, except for assemblymen, ex-officio, government officials and members of the media.
Fairul Nizam, who is Asahan assemblyman, hoped those who had spread the video would retract them.
He denied claims that Rauf suffered from many illnesses.
"He is a healthy and active leader, free from illness.
"The chief minister's health check confirms that he is in good health.
"We believe there is an attempt to undermine his reputation to erode public confidence."
After the video began circulating, the sergeant-at-arms requested two women seated in the front row of the observers section to leave the house after they were identified as the people who recorded the video.
The video allegedly showed Rauf closing his eyes on the last day of the third term of the 15th Melaka State Legislative Assembly today.