A small demonstration over the increase in prices of essential goods today took a light hearted twist by taking jabs at Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for his infamous "kangkung" remark.
 
About fifteen people gathered near a night market in Jalan Alma, Bukit Mertajam with a large styrofoam cut out of Najib's head with his mouth gaping open which was stuffed with 10kg of kangkung.
 
According to Machang Bubok state assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon, the vegetable from a supporter's home garden and it symbolised public anger over rising cost of living due to government policies.
 
"The federal government has the duty to control and prevent the price hikes which have burdened the people. Najib shouldn't ask people not to point fingers at the government," he said.
 
On Sunday, Najib spoke about how the government shouldn't be blamed for volatile prices of fish and vegetables, which he argued depended on the weather.
 
He added that critics would unfairly blame the government for costlier food prices but never praised the government when prices come down, citing kangkung as an example.
 
Najib's apparent desire to be praised and public anger over rising cost of fuel, electricity, sugar and highway toll charges have culminated in a series of humorous internet meme involving kangkung.
 
Likewise, participants at the protest at Jalan Alma was in on the gag by chanting humorous slogans and playing an auto-tuned remix version of Najib's speech that is currently going viral.
 
One participant held a poster depicting Najib as KFC's Colonel Sanders, except that the acronym KFB stood for "Kangkung Fried Belacan".