‘CLAIMS ON SPECIAL COURT UNTRUE’
Minister refutes rumours that expansion of court will be stopped
RUMOURS that the government will stop expanding the special court for sexual crimes against children are not true.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong said he had yet to debate or answer questions on the issue in Parliament.
He dismissed such news as slander by a Barisan Nasional leader.
“I was told that a BN leader, who is Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, had said that, but I never mentioned the discontinuation of the court in Parliament.
“I think it is slander... I have yet to debate nor conclude (the matter) on behalf of the government,” he said at a thanksgiving ceremony and launch of the Batu Sapi service centre in Taman Vista here yesterday.
Azalina, who is Pengerang member of parliament, had asked the government to clarify the status of the special court.
She had said issues related to children were supposed to be handled in a separate system, including the training of judges and prosecutors.
On another matter, Liew said by-elections would likely be held if Sungai Sibuga assemblyman Tan Sri Musa Aman and his son, Yamani Hafez Musa, who is Sipitang member of parliament, were not sworn in within the stipulated time. The two were likely to lose their seats if they failed to be sworn in within three months from June 11 for Musa, and from July 16 for Yamani.
Musa was reported to be in the United Kingdom seeking medical treatment, while Yamani was said to be accompanying his father.
The state assembly is expected to hold its sitting in the middle of next month.