Both Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Foreign Minister Rais Yatim rejected the allegations that there were improprieties in the way VIP wives are treated at Malaysian embassies abroad.
Mohd Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) raised this issue at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday with emphasise on the DPM's spouse, Rosmah Mansor who was allegedly going on luxury shopping sprees, and whose large purchases were transported back home at the expense of the Malaysian embassy in London and national carrier MAS.The overseas missions apparently were required to go overboard in ‘helping' cabinet ministers and their wives. In defence of Rosmah, both the ministers re-emphasised that the claim was untrue.Najib added that Azmin was being ‘petty and frivolous'.The issue began during the Supplementary Supply Bill debate, when Azmin (left) highlighted reports he received."The complaint that we have received is that many of the officers at the embassies abroad are ordered to receive these pembesar (VIPs) and their wives even when they are holidaying," he said."Certain personalities among the wives of cabinet ministers spend huge sums, go on shopping sprees for luxuries, refuse to pay taxes at the airport or to (Malaysian Airline System) MAS, and the foreign affairs ministry has to bear the said expenses," he added.This, he summed up, made the embassy neglect their official obligations.
To a question from Mohd Puad Zarkashi (BN-Batu Pahat), Azmin said he has proof of his claims from the embassy in London itself.Ibrahim Ali (Independent-Pasir Mas) agreed with Azmin and mentioned he knew of embassy staff who were made to accompany VIPs to karaoke joints and entertainment centres.Speedy responseIn his winding up speech, Rais informed Parliament that he had just received a fax from the Malaysian ambassador in London denying Azmin's allegations.
The fax, according to Rais, explained that the ambassador only helped with Rosmah's arrival and departure."They did not pay anything for her and with this explanation, it is up to Azmin to accept it as something that he needs to explain for later," said Rais."This matter does not need to be extended because there are bigger things to discuss. Our embassies will give help to Malaysians abroad but to claim this, the ministry says it is not true," he stressed.Azmin then interjected to say that while he had nothing against embassies helping Malaysians in difficulty, however the issue at hand was the special treatment that certain Malaysians receive."I think you should be sincere in this. Not every Malaysian gets the same welcome when they go overseas," said Azmin, citing the treatment faced by students involved with opposition party functions and PKR officials when overseas.
Azmin also expressed surprise at the efficiency and speed of the investigation into the matter."If the minister says he received a fax from the ambassador, I congratulate the ambassador for responding in a few hours.""It is impossible that in that short time frame, that the minister can carry out investigations," he claimed.At a press conference held later, Najib reiterated his denial of Azmin's enquiry into his wife's actions."It's not true anyway," he added.
From Malaysiakini
I dunno about the shopping spree or the High Commission officials 'helping' VIPs wives but I do know this, no VIPs came to Papua New Guinea for visit since I first posted here. So I wouldn't know whether its true or not.Nevertheless, one of the responsibility of Embassy's officials is to assist our Malaysian VIPs when they are in the country and officials' wives or Perwakilan is tasked to accompany VIPs wives for sightseeing or shopping spree and give advise on do's and dont's in the host country.
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