Liew: I was misquoted

PUTRAJAYA: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong’s written reply in Parliament relating to the allegation that Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had RM230 million in cash assets was twisted, it was stated yesterday.

The minister’s office, in a statement, denied that Liew had said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s allegation about Zahid’s assets made before the 14th General Election (GE14) was false.

It said Liew, who is de facto law minister, was explaining that the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) would investigate the allegation “if there is evidence”.

“I was misquoted with regard to my remarks in Parliament.

“I did not say the allegation is false,” Liew was quoted as saying in the statement.

He was commenting on news portal reports on Monday which had quoted him as having said in his written answer to Bukit Gelugor member of parliament Ramkarpal Singh that it was false that Zahid had RM230 million in cash assets.

The actual written reply could be provided to anyone who wished to confirm this, his office said.

Ramkarpal had wanted to know if the government would investigate the prime minister’s allegations.

Zahid, who is also the former deputy prime minister, was quoted as saying that he was ready to be investigated by MACC on the allegation that he had RM230 million in cash in 1996.