KUALA LUMPUR – Law Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar admitted that the invitation issued to parliamentarians for the closed-door briefing this evening should not have been placed under the Official Secrets Act, said Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching.
The DAP politician said Wan Junaidi had acknowledged that it was a “mistake” to declare the invitation a secret during the meeting this evening.
She also said she was “satisfied” with Wan Junaidi’s clarification on the issue regarding the announcement.
“He admitted that it was a mistake (in) that the invitation should not have been kept a secret but the content of the briefing should definitely be kept a secret,” she told reporters when met after the meeting.
“So on that part, I think I should give him credit because he acknowledged that it was a mistake.”
Teo was among several dozen ministers and MPs from the government and opposition who attended the confidential meeting regarding the claims by heirs of the Sulu sultanate on the country’s assets at Seri Pacific Hotel near Chow Kit here this evening.
Authorities had issued an unofficial gag order on the contents of the meeting due to the sensitivity of the issue.
Asked whether she was satisfied with the explanations provided, Teo declined to comment.
“How can I say whether I was satisfied or not? A lot of things happened in between,” she said, without elaborating on what was discussed.
Among those spotted entering the hotel’s Pacific Ballroom were Teo, Wan Junaidi, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, and Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Nancy Shukri, among others.
The list of MPs in attendance also included Hannah Yeoh (Segambut), Teresa Kok (Seputeh), Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Arau), Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir (Jerlun), Datuk Khairuddin Aman Razali (Kuala Nerus), Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Kota Belud), Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz (Bachok), Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Semporna), Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Baru), and Maria Chin Abdullah (Petaling Jaya).
Reporters on site were told that Bukit Aman has issued a gag order on the details and that the matters discussed have been placed under the Official Secrets Act.
During a presser in the Dewan Rakyat earlier today, Teo had claimed she, along with other independent MPs and those from the opposition bloc, had received a “confidential” invitation to attend a briefing at the hotel in the capital, which was to be conducted by three ministers.
Teo had said the MPs were to be briefed by Wan Junaidi, Saifuddin and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
“After the briefing, there will be a closed-door question-and-answer session,” Teo had said. – The Vibes, July 21, 2022
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