Challenged to accuse Pua, Umno minister insists DAP MP must deny meeting Justo

(Malay Mail Online) – Taunted and challenged to state DAP MP Tony Pua (pic) met with Xavier Andre Justo, Umno minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan today said the onus was on the lawmaker and his party to deny an allegation that remains innuendo.

Abdul Rahman, continuing the war of words with DAP’s Lim Kit Siang and Pua, said that they were the ones doing “the chicken dance” and issuing challenges when they could just come out and deny Pua’s involvement with the former PetroSaudi International executive.

“Challenging BN to openly accuse him is not a fundamental issue. The bigger question is why is DAP leadership including Lim Kit Siang not stepping forward to say whether or not Pua was involved in any way with Justo.

“The technical question of whether he had met him or not is immaterial. Let the police confirm that,” he said.

Pua had in a Facebook post on Saturday dared Barisan Nasional ministers to accuse him openly of meeting with Justo, in response to a news report of Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek urging opposition figures to deny involvement with the arrested Swiss national.

Lim today also directed the urban well-being, housing and local government minister’s attention to Pua previously reported remarks in which the Petaling Jaya Utara MP said he did not know Justo.

Justo is currently being held by Thai authorities after he was arrested on June 22 on charges of blackmailing PSI, a Saudi Arabia-based company linked to 1MDB.

He was reported to have met Malaysian opposition leaders and a media owner in Singapore prior to his arrest in Thailand on June 22.

Yesterday, Pua had also called Abdul Rahman “a joke” and “doing the chicken dance” in backing former Sarawak Tribune editor Lester Melanyi who claimed he was approached by Sarawak Report to fabricate documents to implicate 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Today, Abdul Rahman said that they were skirting around the issue by issuing dares when they could have easily fully denied their involvement.

“What’s the use of challenging me? The important thing is that the truth comes out. Instead they are going around doing the chicken dance. Not me,” said Abdul Rahman.

“My conclusion is that Lim Kit Siang will be in for some real surprises when the facts and details are out by the police.” he added.