PKR's Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli said today he stands by the series of claims he made against the approval of an RM100 million grant by the government to a Pahang-based firm, despite threats of legal action.
The Star Online reported earlier today that NSE Resources, the company that Rafizi said had received RM100 million from the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, and also RM50 million from the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry, had "no choice" but to sue the MP for his public statement.
But Rafizi told Malaysiakini that he is standing by what he said, and the question of whether his remarks are defamatory against NSE Resources would be "up to the court to decide".
"I will wait for the legal notice. I think we have done considerable checks to make sure the documents we have in our possession are all authentic," he said.
Rafizi had also questioned Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's alleged interference in handing of the grants to the company.
'No outright denial'
He said no party has issued an "outright denial of the matter", and said that the comments made by NSE Resources chief executive officer Azhar Anuar indicate the company did write in to apply for the grants.
"My responsibility as a MP is to point out how such projects are being evaluated, when the PM puts in a minute and the minister can agree in principle - it is an issue of governance," he said.
Rafizi said that what he was highlighting was an "issue with the grant system".
"This issue is a reminder of what the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal is all about. Money that was used for cattle farming was used for something else," he said.
"The rest, if it is a research and development grant or an outright project, let the public judge," Rafizi added.
The Star Online reported earlier today that NSE Resources, the company that Rafizi said had received RM100 million from the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, and also RM50 million from the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry, had "no choice" but to sue the MP for his public statement.
But Rafizi told Malaysiakini that he is standing by what he said, and the question of whether his remarks are defamatory against NSE Resources would be "up to the court to decide".
"I will wait for the legal notice. I think we have done considerable checks to make sure the documents we have in our possession are all authentic," he said.
Rafizi had also questioned Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's alleged interference in handing of the grants to the company.
'No outright denial'
He said no party has issued an "outright denial of the matter", and said that the comments made by NSE Resources chief executive officer Azhar Anuar indicate the company did write in to apply for the grants.
"My responsibility as a MP is to point out how such projects are being evaluated, when the PM puts in a minute and the minister can agree in principle - it is an issue of governance," he said.
Rafizi said that what he was highlighting was an "issue with the grant system".
"This issue is a reminder of what the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal is all about. Money that was used for cattle farming was used for something else," he said.
"The rest, if it is a research and development grant or an outright project, let the public judge," Rafizi added.
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