Rafidah resigns as Supermax chair, says 'don't fear intimidation'

Former minister Rafidah Aziz has resigned as chairperson of Supermax Corporation Bhd after the latex glove conglomerate's managing director Stanley Thai apologised to incumbent prime minister Najib Abdul Razak for supporting the opposition in the 2013 general election.

Thai is facing five years in prison after he was convicted of insider trading in 2014. He is currently appealing the conviction.

"Pursuant to the 'apology' by Stanley Thai to the (incumbent) prime minister for whatever he did during the 13th general election, I have resigned from serving as a director of Supermax Corporation and as the chairperson, with effect from April 14.

"While it is his right to do what he feels he needed to do, I do not share the same sentiments," Rafidah told Malaysiakini.

She said it was a democratic right to support any political party.

"I adhere very strongly to the values and principles of integrity, honesty and to enforce my democratic rights to support any political party and to speak up on any issue of public interest and to fear no intimidation from anyone when I speak the truth," she said.

Last Saturday, Thai (photo) called a press conference to make a formal apology to Najib.

"I regret that in GE13, I believe I was influenced by the opposition. Being a businessperson, I should not be involved in politics under any circumstances, and I regret it," he had said.

Following the results of GE13, the Employees Provident Fund sold off its shares in Supermax, with the share prices taking a hit.

In a 2013 interview with Bloomberg, Thai had said he supported the opposition "to protect the future of my children".

He said the Chinese had lost the fear of going against the BN after the ruling coalition did badly in the 2008 general election.

Rafidah, a former minister, has publicly denounced Najib amid the 1MDB scandal and the multi-billion ringgit deposits in his personal bank account.

Najib claimed the RM2.6 billion in his personal bank account was a donation and the amount has since been returned to the Saudi donor.

He denied wrongdoing or taking public funds for personal gain.

Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali also cleared him of wrongdoing. - Mkini