KUALA LUMPUR – MIC president Tan Sri S. Vigneswaran was the target of R.S.N. Rayer’s (Jelutong-PH) ire over the former’s appointment as special envoy to South Asia.
The DAP lawmaker pointed out that Malaysia already has diplomatic representatives to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, deeming Vigneswaran’s appointment as both wasteful and unnecessary.
“I want to know, what is so special about him (Vigneswaran)?
“How much is the government paying him, and why are we spending money when we have envoys to those countries?” Rayer told the Dewan Rakyat.
He said Vigneswaran is expected to be paid at least RM50,000 monthly, suggesting the money could instead be used to solve the problem faced by contractual doctors who are unsure of their future in the public healthcare service.
Additionally, Rayer took the opportunity to blast Datuk Seri Najib Razak (Pekan-BN), asking why the former prime minister is allowed to travel overseas when he owes the Inland Revenue Board RM1.75 billion in unpaid taxes.
“Why is he (Najib) allowed to go here and there?
“We all know that if we owe money to IRB, we would be blacklisted from leaving the country,” Rayer added.
The Jelutong MP also said that he met with a voter in a constituency who pointed out that he was not allowed to leave the country due to PTPTN debts, adding that the special treatment given to Najib was unfair.
Rayer then revealed a photo he received from the voter, showing Najib drinking coffee with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Bera-BN) and Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Bagan Datuk-BN).
“Is the government giving special treatment to the honourable Pekan?
“Remember, under our constitution, everyone is equal under the law,” he said. – The Vibes, November 24, 2021
