KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak sparked storm of criticism on Saturday after saying he had stopped eating rice in favour of more expensive quinoa.

Najib, who is facing a general election within months under a cloud of a corruption scandal, has been blamed for a rising cost of living since launching a goods and services tax in 2015.

Hoping to win a third term in the election due by August, Najib has denied wrongdoing in connection with the graft scandal surrounding the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) state fund.

The fund has also denied wrongdoing.

The latest barrage of criticism from opponents who label the prime minister aloof of and out of touch with ordinary folk followed a comment he made while visiting a hospital on Thursday.

“I don’t eat rice. I eat quinoa. My son introduced me to it,” Najib is heard saying in a video taken at a question and answer session. Najib goes on to explain quinoa has less carbohydrates and sugar. “It is better than rice,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2018