Nazri refutes Annuar’s ‘sidelined’ claim
TOURISM and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said he could not accept allegations made by Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa that the latter was sidelined for publicly pushing for government recognition of the UEC (Unified Examination Certificate).
“I am also supporting calls for government recognition for UEC, why is my position in the party (Umno) still strong?” Nazri was quoted by Sin Chew Daily as saying in a report yesterday.
He was asked to comment on Annuar’s remarks in an interview published by the Chinese daily on Monday.
“As such, it is hard for me to understand (Annuar’s claim). I have not been sidelined, I have not become a victim.
“My position in the government (Cabinet) is still firm. So, it is difficult for me to accept (Annuar’s remarks in the interview), as no one is sidelined in Barisan Nasional or in the government.
“For example, MCA and Gerakan are also strongly supporting government recognition for UEC. Their ministers are still ministers, right? I support UEC, but I am still a minister,” he said.
In the interview, Annuar had said his push for government recognition for UEC was the main reason he was suspended as Mara chairman in late January.
He also said he was a victim of party infighting.
In response, Nazri said: “I want to know who sidelined him (Annuar).
“I have been supporting calls for government recognition for UEC all along, even when then education minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had rejected it. I’d asked him, ‘if we can recognise Taiwanese degrees, why can’t we recognise UEC?’”
However, to another question, Nazri declined to be drawn into commenting on the real reasons Annuar was sidelined, saying it was best answered by Annuar himself.