Zam Chides Group For Politicising Mt Everest Expedition

SEPANG, June 7 (Bernama) -- Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin today chided the group that politicised the success of the country's heroes from the Information Ministry who conquered Mount Everest, the world's highest peak.
He said they not only purposely came earlier to the KL International Airport (KLIA) here to greet the expedition team in the welcoming celebrations organised by the government, but had also kicked off their political game much earlier when Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said visited the base camp at Kathmandu in Nepal.
"They had printed and circulated fliers saying that Azalina went there for shopping.
"This is politics of the lowest degree. As they are devoid of political capital, they stoop low to the extent of politicising a sporting event," he told reporters after welcoming the Mount Everest expedition team.
Zainuddin and Azalina were at KLIA to welcome participants of the Merdeka De'Everest expedition team comprising RTM cameraman Idris Said, 51, Ahmad Reduan Rozali, 25, Ahmad Fakhri Abu Samah, 25, RTM assistant producer Marina Ahmad, 25, Mohd Rofi Kori, 35, and expedition team leader Muhammad Fauzan Hasan, 39.
Also returning with the team was expedition leader Datuk Khalid Yunus, 64, who could only manage up to 7,200m of the 8,848m high Mount Everest.
The team was accorded a rousing welcome by about 1,000 people with RTM beaming the event live.
Zainuddin said Marina, the first Malaysian woman to conquer Mount Everest, would be paraded alongside the Kembara Merdeka team members throughout the country to meet and motivate Malaysians.
He also said his ministry would continue to work with the Youth and Sports Ministry to motivate the people under a programme to enhance self-confidence.
"This is important, especially for the Malays, as they are lagging far behind in self-confidence, openness and their preparedness to compete with others," he said.
Azalina said programmes initiated by the government to bolster the country's image should not be politicised by any group.
She said the feat by the Information Ministry staff was a pride of the nation as it was achieved at a time when the country was preparing to usher in its 50th independence anniversary celebrations.

tunku : i have not heard anything about azalina went there for shopping, anyway congrats to the team. By the way tomorrow 10am there will be a function at Perdana Leadership Foundation where Tun Mahathir will celebrate the team