Dr M backs recording release
NATION
Monday, 13 Jan 2020
THE STAR
LANGKAWI: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Latheefa Koya’s move in releasing audio recordings of alleged criminal conspiracy is no different from the public display of items seized from Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak earlier, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The Prime Minister said following police raids on Najib’s residence and the Pavilion Residences in 2018, personal items belonging to Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor which were seized in the operations were also shown to the public.
“It’s the same (as making public the recordings), no difference... We do not hide from the public until there is a trial, ” he told reporters after presenting prizes at the closing ceremony of the Royal Langkawi International Regatta (RLIR) 2020 here on Saturday evening.
He was commenting on Latheefa’s action of making the nine audio recordings allegedly involving conversations between the former prime minister and several other individuals public last Wednesday.
Last Saturday, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reportedly asked Latheefa to explain her actions after they were criticised by certain quarters.
Asked if the MACC revelation was unethical, Dr Mahathir said, “What is unethical about that?”
On him taking on the role of interim Education Minister, Dr Mahathir stressed that the search for a suitable candidate to be minister was ongoing.
“Once someone is picked to take over, I will relinquish it; it’s only temporary, ” he said.
Asked whether the new minister would be an MP from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu),
Dr Mahathir said that this was the usual practice.
The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement last Friday that the Cabinet decided on Jan 8 that Dr Mahathir would act in that capacity effective Jan 3 until the next education minister was appointed.
Dr Maszlee Malik resigned as education minister on Jan 3 after holding the post for 20 months.
Asked if the appointment of the new education minister indicated a likely Cabinet reshuffle soon, he said: “I do not know about a Cabinet reshuffle, but there will be a new education minister for sure.”
Asked on the possibility of other ministers wanting to resign, Dr Mahathir said he was willing to accept any resignation.
Dr Mahathir also said the government was studying the possibility of splitting the ministry into the Education Ministry and Higher Education Ministry, as was done before. — Bernama
LANGKAWI: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Latheefa Koya’s move in releasing audio recordings of alleged criminal conspiracy is no different from the public display of items seized from Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak earlier, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The Prime Minister said following police raids on Najib’s residence and the Pavilion Residences in 2018, personal items belonging to Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor which were seized in the operations were also shown to the public.
“It’s the same (as making public the recordings), no difference... We do not hide from the public until there is a trial, ” he told reporters after presenting prizes at the closing ceremony of the Royal Langkawi International Regatta (RLIR) 2020 here on Saturday evening.
He was commenting on Latheefa’s action of making the nine audio recordings allegedly involving conversations between the former prime minister and several other individuals public last Wednesday.
Last Saturday, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reportedly asked Latheefa to explain her actions after they were criticised by certain quarters.
Asked if the MACC revelation was unethical, Dr Mahathir said, “What is unethical about that?”
On him taking on the role of interim Education Minister, Dr Mahathir stressed that the search for a suitable candidate to be minister was ongoing.
“Once someone is picked to take over, I will relinquish it; it’s only temporary, ” he said.
Asked whether the new minister would be an MP from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu),
Dr Mahathir said that this was the usual practice.
The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement last Friday that the Cabinet decided on Jan 8 that Dr Mahathir would act in that capacity effective Jan 3 until the next education minister was appointed.
Dr Maszlee Malik resigned as education minister on Jan 3 after holding the post for 20 months.
Asked if the appointment of the new education minister indicated a likely Cabinet reshuffle soon, he said: “I do not know about a Cabinet reshuffle, but there will be a new education minister for sure.”
Asked on the possibility of other ministers wanting to resign, Dr Mahathir said he was willing to accept any resignation.
Dr Mahathir also said the government was studying the possibility of splitting the ministry into the Education Ministry and Higher Education Ministry, as was done before. — Bernama
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