SG PETANI – Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has insisted that the coalition does not hold anything personal against PAS elections director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, but called on him to stop misleading and twisting facts for political mileage.
The latest case in point is Sanusi’s alleged linking of Indonesian tycoon Riza Chalid to the extraction of minerals from Kedah, said Saifuddin, who is also PH elections director.
“There is nothing further from the truth. The only time Riza came to Kedah was to accompany then opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to make a courtesy call on the sultan of Kedah. There was no business agreement with the state,” said Saifuddin, who is home minister.
Riza is also not involved in any application to extract rare earth elements (REE) from Kedah.
Speaking while campaigning for PH at Taman Delima here, Saifuddin said that PH does not mind dealing with Sanusi if he is sincere and wants what is best for Kedah instead of what is only best for his political career.
Elaborating on the police investigation into the illegal extraction of REE in Kedah, Saifuddin Nasution said that it should not be politicised, as it just concerns the theft of the country’s assets and minerals.
“It is not whether PH or PAS is better. It is a simple criminal or corruption case on why REE is mined illegally. As Sanusi heads the state government, he needs to cooperate and clarify. It is an apolitical thing,” said Saifuddin.
The people of Kedah need to know if the previous government can be counted on to be responsible, he added.
By disclosing various transgressions, the public need to decide if Sanusi is responsible, as the theft of such assets is essentially stealing from the rakyat.
Saifuddin also claimed that he will be dropping more “bombshells” on the previous Kedah administration headed by Sanusi in a briefing at Bukit Enggang in Sik later today.
Meanwhile, a political observer here cited that Umno’s grassroots machinery is not operating as effectively as before.
There are claims that Bersatu spies are doubling up as Umno members to deceive the party on the extent of support it is getting, the observer, who declined to be named, said.
“They take allowances and food from Umno, but on the quiet they prefer to vote for Sanusi,” he said.
Kedah Umno, led by former menteri besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, is contesting 15 seats, which are crucial for the PH-BN alliance to cause an upset in Kedah.
The rest of the seats are vied for by PH parties.
There are 36 state seats in Kedah. – The Vibes, August 3, 2023
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