Jasa leaps to Puad's defence over forex RCI accusations

The Special Affairs Department (Jasa) has countered allegations that its director-general's comments on the ongoing royal commission of inquiry (RCI) may constitute threatening or injuring a witness.

The government propaganda arm was responding to former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram, who yesterday commented on the legality of the statements by Jasa director-general Mohd Puad Zarkashi accusing former Bank Negara adviser Nor Mohamed Yakcop of trying to protect then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad over the forex scandal.

“How can Mohd Puad Zarkashi's question be considered 'threatening, insulting or injuring a witness'?

“At the very least, Gopal should be aware Puad's comment is not a form of 'insult' under Section 14 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1950,” read the Jasa statement today.

Jasa pointed out Puad had begun his statement with a question.

“Puad's question was who was the party that was qualified and had power to give approval to Nor Mohamed (over the forex transactions),” said the department.

On Thursday Puad in a statement through Jasa, accused Nor Mohamed of being a scapegoat in the decades-old forex scandal that is the subject of the government's ongoing RCI,

He asked if the witness had deliberately avoided implicating then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“Since when is a member of the public asking questions considered threatening and injuring a witness?” asked Jasa further.

It then listed a number of points from the testimonies at the RCI to lend support to Puad's accusations.

This included Auditor-General's Office former auditor P Kanason's testimony that there had allegedly been “someone from above” who had told the department not to get involved in the transactions.

“Aren't all those witness statements (during testimony) all not in favour of Nor Mohamed?” Jasa asked. - Mkini