Zahid: Shame on Azmin for lying about meeting S’pore officials

KUALA LUMPUR: It is shameful of Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali to claim that he met Singapore officials to discuss the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project when the meeting never took place.

Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said it was shocking that Azmin made such a claim.

“The official statement from Singapore that the meeting never took place has shamed Malaysia.

“It makes us look like (big liars) who go around making up stories,” he said in a statement.

Earlier yesterday, the Transport Ministry refuted Azmin’s claim that he met “senior officials from Singapore” over the weekend to discuss the HSR project.

On Monday, Azmin said he had met Singapore authorities while he was in the republic on Sunday to visit Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is recuperating from surgery to remove a pancreatic tumour.

Azmin did not reveal the officials he spoke with, but Bernama quoted him as saying: “The meeting went in a positive manner.”

He added: “The official meeting will take place some time in August.”

However, a Transport Ministry spokesman said no meeting had been scheduled, nor had any

taken place between Azmin and Singapore officials overseeing the HSR project.

“As of 6 August 2018, the Malaysian government has not provided the clarifications sought by Singapore and has not communicated their proposed dates for such discussions,” the spokesman was quoted as saying.

Zahid said it was difficult to understand why Azmin made up the story.

“It’s either he wanted to tell the people that the HSR project is still on or just to show the people that the Pakatan Harapan government is doing its job,” he said, adding that the people should be told about the actual situation concerning the project.

He claimed that the government had “created the biggest lie” about the country’s debt and the people were now being fed other lies.

“It is not even three months since they cruised to power, but the people have been fooled with all kinds of (trickery) over why they cannot fulfil their manifesto promises.”

He said the government backtracked on many promises, including the pledge to abolish the National Security Act and shut the National Civics Bureau, which they claimed was used by the Barisan Nasional administration for its political benefit.

“The latest is the U-turn on the plan to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate. Though we have opposed it, the government must explain why they need five years to decide on the matter.”

Zahid also touched on PH’s focus on getting more investments from China and Japan, despite the fact that the BN administration was accused of selling the country to foreign investors.

He said the government should stop twisting facts and start concentrating on improving the economy and livelihood of the people.