WHO IS FLORENCE GOH – HOW IS SHE LINKED TO NAJIB? ‘WE KNOW HER BUT NOT HER PERSONAL ACTIVITIES’ – UMNO MEN DROP LOADED BOMBSHELL IN DENYING KNOWLEDGE OF NAJIB LOBBYING FOR TRUMP’S FAVOR

KUALA LUMPUR — Two Umno MPs have denied involvement with an individual purportedly in charge of an American firm lobbying the administration of United States President Donald Trump on behalf of Putrajaya.

Earlier today, PKR’s Rafizi Ramli accused Tan Sri Shahrir Samad and Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed of having links to Florence Goh, the president of an NGO called Care United Johor Baru.

Rafizi also claimed that Goh is the director of Godfrey Group Ltd, the US firm accused of lobbying on Putrajaya’s behalf.

Shahrir said he is aware of the existence of the NGO and its activities to aid the elderly and children from low-income families due to his position as Johor Baru MP, and acknowledged meeting Goh.

“[But] I am not aware of her association, if any, with Godfrey Group and neither am I aware of Godfrey Group itself,” Shahrir told Malay Mail Online when contacted.

Like Shahrir, Nur Jazlan said that he only knew Goh based on her capacity as leader of the charity group.

Nur Jazlan is the MP for Pulai, which is also in Johor.

“I don’t know her personal activities,” the deputy home minister told Malay Mail Online.

Rafizi based his allegation on Shahrir’s advisory role in Care United Johor Baru and the two lawmakers’ attendance at events organised by Goh and the NGO.

The PKR vice-president also demanded Shahrir state his involvement in alleged efforts to make Godfrey Group Ltd the middleman in dealing with Putrajaya’s lobbying efforts in the US.

Shahrir today noted that Rafizi based his claim entirely on conjecture.

“Typical of Rafizi to make claims like this, without any proof, and without concern about damaging the reputation of people in his claims. PMO has already issued a denial of this,” Shahrir said, referring to the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Najib administration last week denied engaging any US firm to help lobby the Trump administration.

“Contrary to recent media reports and a registration statement, neither the Prime Minister’s Office or Government of Malaysia has instructed, appointed or contracted in any form with the Godfrey Group Ltd, the 45 Group or Healy Baumgardner-Nardone,” Datuk Seri Tengku Sariffuddin, press secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, had said in a statement.

Baumgardner-Nardone is the head of the 45 Group who reportedly worked on the Trump presidential election campaign last year.

A US-based news website The Daily Beast previously reported that the firm was paid RM1.07 million for lobbying purposes by a Malaysian company called Godfrey Group Ltd.

MALAY MAIL