Rafidah Denies Shunning Dewan Rakyat Sitting - Bernama

From Nor Baizura Basri

VIENTIANE, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz Wednesday denied that she had shirked her responsibility to the Dewan Rakyat, saying she was here working for the country.

She said it was unjust to conclude thus when she was abroad in the interest of the nation.

"I come here for work, as you can see I'm doing my work. I'm worried if they are not able to make any decision here. It could affect the Asean Summit in December and affect our image as a host," she told Bernama and Utusan Malaysia here.

Rafidah said it was most important to resolve all issues at the Asean Economic Ministers meeting here as Malaysia had to make preparations to host the 11th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur in December.

She was asked to comment on a statement by Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang who had pointed out her absence at the current sitting of the Dewan Rakyat to reply to questions on the issue of approved permit (AP) for import of vehicles.

Lim has been quoted as saying that Rafidah should be dropped from the Cabinet in view of the unresolved AP issue that had come up last May.

The issue came about after former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad queried the way the AP scheme had been implemented, saying among other things that it only benefited a handful of bumiputeras and some of those who received APs were not automotive businessmen.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=157932]

Cabinet Wants Rafidah To Explain AP Issue In Dewan Rakyat - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- The Cabinet decided at its meeting Wednesday that International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz attend the Dewan Rakyat to explain the issue of approved permit (AP) for import of vehicles, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

He said the Cabinet wanted Rafidah to give the explanation as soon as she returned from abroad where she is on official business.

"The Cabinet decided that Rafidah give a statement in Parliament as soon as she is back in the country. We expect her to make the statement soon," he told reporters at the lobby of Parliament, here.

Rafidah is attending the Asean Economic Ministers Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, and is expected to return to Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. Last week she was in San Francisco on a trade mission to the United States and had not attended the Dewan Rakyat since its current sitting began on Sept 19.

Najib, who was asked whether the question of Rafidah's explanation of the AP issue was discussed at today's meeting of the Cabinet, said Rafidah must give the explanation because it was a Cabinet decision and that the "Cabinet can decide on anything".

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz told a separate media conference that in view of the Cabinet decision, the Dewan Rakyat was expected to approve a motion tabled by Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang on Sept 20 requesting Rafidah to turn up in person to reply to the questions raised on the AP issue.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=157859]

The Merdeka Embrace - Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 1 (Bernama) -- It was perhaps one of the most memorable moments of the Merdeka Day 2005 celebrations -- the warm embrace exchanged between International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz and former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The minister and Dr Mahathir, who is Proton adviser, had recently traded remarks pertaining to the controversy surrounding the approved permit (AP) issue.

The fleeting moment in front of the VVIP stage was witnessed by several Cabinet ministers who were milling about as Dr Mahathir and his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamed Ali, were about to leave after the parade at Dataran Putrajaya on the Boulevard here Wednesday.

Nobody knew exactly what was said by Rafidah and Dr Mahathir, but the minister was seen to be in tears as she hugged the former prime minister, who looked calm throughout the episode.

Rafidah also gave Dr Siti Hasmah a warm hug before taking out a piece of tissue paper to wipe away the tears and accompanied the former First Couple to their car.

Efforts to get comments from Dr Mahathir and Rafidah were unsuccessful but several photographers managed to capture the "Merdeka" embrace.

Dr Mahathir had in May questioned the issuance of APs, saying that it was hurting national car Proton, and asked for the list of AP holders to be made public.

Rafidah responded then that disclosing the names had never been government policy, even during Dr Mahathir's time. But she disclosed that one of his sons too had been a recipient of APs.

Many parties asked Rafidah to apologise to Dr Mahathir for making what they felt were hurtful and disrespectful remarks against him, as she came under fire at the Umno general assembly in July over her handling of the AP issue.

[From http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=153063]