Azmin zips lips on identity of mystery minister

Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali today insisted that he would not reveal the name of a senior minister who had purportedly voiced his intention to resign from the cabinet.

"I will not reveal the name out of respect for the private discussion between me and the individual.

"I also understand that if the name is revealed, Malaysia practices a police state, they (authorities) will threaten and pressure the individual," claimed Azmin, who was bombarded over his tweet yesterday that questioned whether a senior minister had resigned over the 1MDB imbroglio.

The PKR deputy president was speaking to reporters in Subang Jaya when met at the launch of party veteran Syed Husin Ali's latest book, also in conjunction with his 80th birthday celebrations. 

Azmin, however, refused to reveal further details about the discussion.

"On this earth... Once upon a time," he said when pressed for the location and date of the purported discussion.

This was after it was pointed out that Barisan Nasional leaders had accused him of lying over the matter.

Azmin also dodged questions over whether Foreign Minister Anifah Aman was the individual in question, as claimed by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi earlier today.

"Firstly, I did not make a statement. I asked a question.

"But even such a simple question, it seems like the (BN) leadership have overreacted. From the prime minister to the deputy prime minister," he noted.

Pressed for hints on the individual's identity, Azmin insisted he was merely asking a question and urged all parties to not panic.

"From Malaysia, a Malaysian minister... A portfolio decided by the prime minister. Don't panic," he said.

Responding to Azmin's initial tweet, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had issued a statement to deny the matter.

Halfway through the event held at a hotel here, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil announced that Azmin's speech had been brought forward as he had to leave to be with his mother who is in a critical state at a private hospital.

Azmin later confirmed that his mother had suffered a second stroke at noon today and was now warded at the Intensive Care Unit.- Mkini