Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan appears unfazed by the torrent of criticism he has received on social media for suggesting road users to 'wake up early' and use alternative routes if they wanted to avoid paying toll.

This follows toll hikes in the Klang Valley last month, with some highways hiking rates by as much as 100 percent.

The reaction to Abdul Rahman's statement on Twitter had ranged from mild criticism to outright insults and the minister responded with equal sarcasm to snide comments using his handle @mpkotabelud.

One Twitter user, Effi Saharudin, said: "If you are annoyed with 'go to work earlier statement' please spam @mpkotabelud so he knows how stupid his statement is".

Abdul Rahman took this in stride as he helped circulate the call by reproducing the tweet.

And as expected, the angry comments started coming in with one Twitter user using the handle @mashmsqxrd asking if Abdul Rahman was a twin of Ahmad Maslan.

Ahmad Maslan, now international trade and industry deputy minister, was widely mocked for his never-ending gaffes in his passionate defence of the Goods and Services Tax when he was deputy finance minister.

To this, Abdul Rahman merely replied: "No, he is better looking than me."

Minister a 'village boy'

Another user with the Twitter handle @LeBarnacle made fun of the Kota Belud parliamentary constituency which Abdul Rahman represents.

"Does he even know the roads in Kuala Lumpur? For all we know this village boy from the interior of Kota Belud may get lost," he said.

Responding to this, Abdul Rahman said: "I have Garmin GPS (global positioning system)".

Joining in the criticism was DAP Selangor committee member Young Syefura who said: "Is it compulsory to issue stupid statements if someone becomes a minister? Where are your advisers, special officers and personal assistants? Don't they advise ahead?"

However, Abdul Rahman did not address this criticism but instead made fun of Young's Twitter name which read 'Rawrr'.

"Rawrrrrrrr.... there it is," he said without elaborating.

On a serious note, Abdul Rahman criticised Malay Mail Online which he accused of using a 'mischievous' headline in reporting his comment about tolled highways.

"Read the content of my press conference, not only the mischievous headline by Malay Mail ," he said.