Stop invoking God’s name, remember AP issue, Rafidah told
(FMT) – An Umno Supreme Council member has warned Rafidah Aziz against invoking religion in accusing the government of selling off thousands of hectares of military land, saying she has to explain the approved permit (AP) controversy involving her when she headed the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
“I would respectfully caution Tan Sri not to invoke the name of the Almighty so quickly in her rebuttal lest she herself be found wanting,” said Kuala Selangor MP Irmohizam Ibrahim, following Rafidah’s recent outburst on her Facebook page.
He said Rafidah had yet to answer allegations involving her over the AP issue which had “scandalised the government of the day”.
“No one has forgotten that in 2005, Rafidah was herself embroiled in a major scandal relating to issuance of APs to import cars,” said Irmohizam.
Rafidah had recently said that Prime Minister Najib Razak as defence minister in 2008 had sought cabinet approval to lease some 40,000 hectares of land belonging to the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence to a private company for 40 years.
Yesterday, Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein rejected the claim, saying Rafidah was indulging in blatant lies.
Rafidah then issued several media statements, taking an Islamic oath to say she was speaking the truth.
“Wallahi, Wabillahi, Watallahi. Do not deny this fact. I bear witness with Allah,” she told FMT yesterday.
Irmohizam said Rafidah should not “cast stones” at Najib, when she herself had yet to make public the full list of AP recipients and those who had benefited “immensely” at the expense of the people and the national car industry.
“Regrettably, Rafidah remained silent on the issue throughout her tenure, and suspicions that many recipients were connected to her have remained unchallenged.”
The issuance of AP became controversial, following claims that a select group of car dealers were given preferential treatment by the trade ministry under Rafidah. She has denied the allegations.
