BN media officer suspended over ‘Zahid’s statement’

 

Zahid, in the statement that has now been declared inaccurate, had slammed Takiyuddin for saying that Dewan Rakyat sittings would not be held during the Emergency period. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional (BN) says a statement attributed to its chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan’s remarks about Dewan Rakyat sittings was released without permission – and the media officer who sent it out has been suspended.

In a statement, BN executive secretary Mohamad Sahfri Ab Aziz said they are investigating the matter and have suspended the media officer who released the statement for one month.

Sahfri said the statement which was released without the approval of the BN secretariat “contained inaccuracies”.

BN did not elaborate on the inaccurate information, although it said it was different from what had been discussed and decided by the coalition’s top leaders at their meeting yesterday.

Earlier, the presidents of MCA and MIC, both BN component parties, had said that “Zahid’s statement” did not reflect what had been discussed at the meeeting.

In that statement, Zahid had said Takiyuddin’s remarks that the government would not advise the King to allow Parliament to reconvene during the emergency period was akin to challenging the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s recent stand.

Zahid also called for all Barisan Nasional MPs to plead with the prime minister and his Cabinet to adhere to the King’s remarks that Parliament can reconvene.

He went on to plead with the King to use his discretionary powers under the Emergency Ordinance to call for a Parliament sitting immediately, to address several issues.- FMT