Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recalled how a former natural resources and environment minister had embarrassed himself in front of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Without naming the person, he said the former minister and Najib had a meeting over the haze situation.

“I want to tell you a story... The prime minister asked the then natural resources and environment minister, 'how's the haze today?'

"The minister stood up, gazed out (of the window) and answered, 'a little bit clearer'," he said to the laughter of some 200 officers at the FRIM Institute in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

Zahid said the minister should have come prepared for the meeting, equipped with the relevant information and data.

"He should have at least backed it up with the percentage of visibility, then he can be minister with class," he added.

On the same note, Zahid, who is also BN deputy chairperson, appeared to be satisfied with the performance of the current minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

"(If his party chooses him), I will whisper to the prime minister to retain him as the natural resources and environment minister," he said.

Wan Junaidi, a Sarawak Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) leader, had replaced former MIC president G Palanivel as the natural resources and environment minister in July 2015.

Palanivel helmed the ministry from May 2013 to July 2015.

Meanwhile, FRIM also named two limestone plants species after Ahmad Zahid and Wan Junaidi as an appreciation for their effort in preserving biodiversity.

The two plants are “Gymnostachyum ahmadzahidianum” and “Impatiens feonajunaidiana”.

FRIM would also name another plant after the prime minister during his upcoming visit.