KUALA LUMPUR – An apparently vindicated Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (Machang-PN) did not hold back his glee when it was confirmed in Parliament today that he indeed did not lodge a police relating to the Yayasan Albukhary tax exemption debacle.
The Lower House was a scene of boisterous celebration by opposition lawmakers when Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul declared that the report was not filed by Wan Fayhsal, who is also Bersatu Youth chief.
“I have received (Wan Fayhsal’s) explanation on the matter. I was given a copy of the police report, which was filed by a (Bersatu Youth) member, not by him,” Johari said, to rousing cheers from the opposition bench.
Over the noise, Wan Fayhsal could be heard jubilantly declaring: “I did not lie!”
Earlier on, Chong Zhemin (Kampar-PH) had incited the ire of opposition MPs when he brought up a Facebook post made by Wan Fayhsal where the latter allegedly stated that he had filed the police report alongside his party wing comrades.
“Based on his own Facebook post, Machang (Wan Fayhsal) lied in the house yesterday when he said he did not lodge the police report,” Chong asserted amidst jeers and calls for him to take his seat.
In response to Johari’s confirmation, Chong doubled down on his stance, proceeding to accuse Wan Fayhsal of spreading lies online while questioning why he had not denied media reports pointing to him as the one to lodge the police report.
“If he (Wan Fayhsal) did not lie to the house, then he lied on Facebook. This (Facebook post) has been reported by news outlets. Why didn’t he deny (that he lodged the report) then?” he pressed.
Yesterday, Wan Fayhsal dismissed accusations of him having insulted parliamentary proceedings by making the police report against DAP national chairman Lim Guan Eng (Bagan-PH), claiming that the report was not filed under his name.
He also said that he has written to the Dewan Rakyat speaker to refer Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Tambun-PH) to the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges over statements he had made in Parliament relating to Yayasan Albukhary.
Last week, Lim alleged that Wan Fayhsal had committed a crime by lodging a false police report and was in contempt of parliamentary proceedings by attempting to turn the matter into a police investigation.
In his report, Wan Fayhsal alleged that Anwar misled the Lower House by stating that the finance minister was not empowered under the law to grant tax exemptions.
He also contended that Lim had lied about not revoking the foundation’s tax exemption status.
Arau MP expresses pity for Kedah menteri besar
Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Arau-PN) attempted to propose an emergency discussion on claims by Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor that he has been barred from attending federal government events.
Citing Standing Order 18(1) on how an MP can request to discuss a defined matter of urgent public importance, Shahidan said that it “saddened” him to see a menteri besar appointed by the state’s sultan allegedly being snubbed by the government.
“Why is something like this happening? It is sad to see someone appointed by the sultan being treated this way.”
The former Umno man, however, was shot down by Johari who ordered him to submit a written motion on the matter, while pointing out that Sanusi’s claims have not been verified by the government.
“Is there black-and-white proof that the government had issued orders banning (Sanusi) from attending any federal administration programmes?
“There isn’t any, right? There are only media reports,” he added. – The Vibes, March 30, 2023
