‘CLAIMS ARE STRANGE, FUNNY’
Umno Supreme Council member just asking questions, says Jasa director
ZAFIRA ANWAR KUALA LUMPUR news@nst.com.my
CLAIMS that Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi’s statements on former Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) assistant governor Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop’s testimony could affect witnesses of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) are seen as “strange and funny”.
Special Affairs Department (Jasa) strategic communications director Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz said the accusation was made by retired Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, who said Puad’s statements could threaten, insult and harm the witnesses in foreign exchange (forex) losses in the 1990s.
Faisal said Puad was merely asking questions, which did not harm witnesses.
“How is it that Puad’s statement can threaten, offend and hurt the witnesses?
“But at least Gopal knows that Puad’s comments are not an ‘insult’ under Section 14 of the Commissions of Enquiry Act of 1950,” said Faisal yesterday.
Faisal defended Puad, saying that the latter was just giving his opinion based on Nor Mohamed’s testimony, which suggested that he was willing to be the scapegoat in the scandal.
“Nor Mohamed said he took responsibility for the huge losses, but denied that decisions regarding the central bank’s forex in the 1990s were decided by him.
“This means that there were others involved. Who are the others? Did he mean BNM’s (then) governor?” said Faisal, who was quoting Puad.
Faisal said Puad was questioning who had the authority to give the directive to Nor Mohamed, a manager in BNM, to trade more than its daily limit, amounting to US$1 billion a day, as claimed by a witness and current forex department manager, Azman Mat Ali.
“It is Nor Mohamed’s attitude that puts him in danger, especially after more witnesses had given their statements, including former finance minister (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim.
“Don’t all the statements by the witnesses go against Nor Mohamed?”
RCI had called 21 witnesses to the stand since it commenced hearing on Aug 21.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V gave the RCI until Oct 13 to complete its proceedings and submit a report. Firemen dousing the fire at Pasar Besar Seremban in Jalan Tun Dr Ismail, Seremban, last night. (Inset) The blaze began 7.35pm.