SHAFIE ASKED ABOUT 1MDB, GST DURING CABINET MEETINGS & FOR THAT HE WAS SACKED - AIDE

Former minister Shafie Apdal had raised several sensitive issues in closed-door Umno supreme council meetings prior to being dropped from his position of Rural and Regional Development Minister, said one of his aide.

Speaking to Malaysiakini on condition of anonymity, the aide said Shafie had constantly raised the issues but never received satisfactory explanation.

"Among the issues affecting the rakyat that were discussed included 1MDB, the Goods and Services Tax and Felda.

"In the 1MDB issue for example, Shafie merely asked questions without being accusatory but the explanations by the relevant quarters were unsatisfactory and the issue remained unresolved," he said.

Asked if among the issues raised by Shafie included controversies surrounding the prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor, the aide declined to comment.

The aide said the issues raised by Shafie were actually feedback from the grassroot government servants who had used proper channels to convey their grouses.

Remains loyal to the party

Shafie Apdal  and Muhyiddin Yassin

Shafie, together with Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, were removed in a cabinet reshuffle yesterday for criticising 1MDB, Najib's brainchild project which has chalked up RM41.8 billion in debt.

Four other deputy ministers were also dropped while another minister G Palanivel was axed for a separate reason - an internal crisis in MIC.

The aide said there were concerns that this may cause a split in the party ahead of the general election which is due in 2018.

Nonetheless, the aide said Shafie, who was instrumental in helping Umno make its foray into Sabah, was calm about being dropped by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"He (Shafie) was positive about what had happened and remains loyal to the party," he said. - M'kini