Chia link will not cost BN, unlike NFC scandal, says Nazri

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 — Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz denied today that allegations of his son’s link to Sabah timber trader Michael Chia would cost Barisan Nasional (BN) politically like the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) scandal.

Nazri was defending himself against allegations of conflict of interest in his alleged defence of Sabah timber trader Micheal Chia. — File pic

“It doesn’t bother me at all. That (NFC case) is husband and wife...what he does, he doesn’t tell me.

“It is different from husband and wife,” the outspoken minister told reporters when approached in Parliament.

Nazri was defending himself against allegations by PKR’s Rafizi Ramli, who had accused him of conflict of interest in his alleged defence of Chia, the businessman who was accused of attempting to smuggle RM40 million to Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman.

Rafizi had asked if Nazri’s alleged “relentless” defence of Chia was because his son, Nedim, had been using the businessman’s half a million ringgit Hummer.

Despite refusing to confirm or deny whether his son was indeed using Chia’s car, Nazri said it was not a problem and has no connection to his integrity as a minister.

“Why should it be a problem? It is between him (Nedim) and Michael (Chia). Ask him (Chia) if it is a problem,” he said.

Nazri pointed out that he does not drive the Hummer, but travels in his own car, which he said uses the number plate “WVJ 6”.

“Wealth, victory, justice,” he said, to describe what the plate initials stand for. “Some say W is for wisdom... but I don’t want that.

“That is why I can afford things... but certainly, it is not NFC’s money,” he said, in another swipe at the cattle-farming scandal.

Nazri insisted that the latest episode surrounding his alleged link to Chia would not hurt BN in any way in the coming polls.

“Why (would this) harm BN? Why BN?” he asked the reporter who posed him the question.

He took a potshot at Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, pointing out that despite the latter’s many scandals, he did not appear to be worried that it would harm Pakatan Rakyat (PR), the federal opposition pact that he leads.

“His pictures going around town, in the cyberworld...  he is not worried, so why should I be worried about this?” he pointed out.

The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said he was unfazed by Rafizi’s allegations, even labelling the PKR leader a “nobody”, “nothing but a mosquito bite” and a “wannabe”.

He said it was a waste of time if he were to haul Rafizi to court over the matter, pointing out that the man was not even an elected lawmaker.

“This guy is nobody. I don’t want to stoop so low to deal with him... but since you came and asked (my response), I just reply,” he said referring to the reporters.

“So if you (reporters) came here thinking that I will be upset, far from it. Far from it. He (Rafizi) is not even a mosquito bite.”