Nazri defends Guan Eng on resignation calls over landslide

Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz today defended Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng against calls for the latter to resign over the Tanjung Bungah landslide incident last Saturday.

Asked for comments on the calls by Lim's critics, including from within Umno, Nazri told a press conference at the Les' Copaque animation studio in Shah Alam that there must be a precedent for such a move.

"Let's put it this way. There must be a precedent.

"There was a landslide in Bukit Antarabangsa. I don't see Mahathir resign, I don't see Anwar resign as deputy prime minister," he said in alluding to the 1993 Highland Towers tragedy which occurred as a result of a major landslide in Taman Hillview, Ulu Kelang.

At the time of the tragedy which claimed 48 lives, Pakatan Harapan chair Dr Mahathir Mohamad was still serving as prime minister, while jailed de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim was his deputy.

"Rules must be applied to all, not selectively.

"Everybody lives in a glass house. So don't throw stones," Nazri further cautioned.

Among others, Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Noh Omar had demanded DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang to tell his son, Guan Eng, to resign over the deadly landslide that claimed 11 lives.

This was after Kit Siang had called on Noh to be sacked for alleged negligence in carrying out his ministerial duties, resulting in the tahfiz fire on Sept 14 and the death of 21 students and two wardens. 

'Umno open to talks with PAS'

Nazri, meanwhile, reiterated that Umno is open to talks with PAS on common issues ahead of the 14th general elections.

"Any party that agrees with our struggles, they can work with us on issues that are common.

"To me, we (Umno) don't want to be a party that cannot cooperate with anybody," he said when asked for comments on Umno information chief Annuar Musa's latest statement on a possible cooperation between the party and PAS.

"After all, BN itself is a coalition of 13 parties. What does it mean?

"It means a cooperation between parties, we share a common goal...so there is a precedent. If there is any other party, we can sit down and talk," said Nazri who is also an Umno Supreme Council member.

Within PAS ranks, the party's advisory board chairperson Mustafa Ali had last Sunday said its leaders should reassess Annuar's offer for a cooperation with Umno in GE14.

Nazri earlier handed Les' Copaque managing director Burhanuddin Md Radzi with a certificate of appointment for its Upin and Ipin cartoon characters as Malaysia's Tourism Ambassador for the next two years.

Among others, the appointment was made in recognition of the characters' success in promoting Malaysia in Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, as well as other countries where the animated series can be viewed online.

-Mkini