KUALA LUMPUR – Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Sg Buloh candidate Khairy Jamaluddin has called on his opponent Datuk R. Ramanan of Pakatan Harapan (PH) to make accusations in a clear and direct manner after the latter sought an explanation for several controversies allegedly linked to Khairy.
Ramanan had brought up alleged scandals, including Khairy’s alleged involvement with the finance house ECM Libra Bhd in 2005 and 2006 – an issue which re-surfaced during the current election campaign, despite Khairy maintaining that he had been cleared of all related accusations.
Khairy, who was health minister until Parliament’s dissolution last month, said Ramanan must make the accusations clear so that he can take legal action against the PKR politician.
The incumbent Rembau MP also said Ramanan should not hide behind questions if he was prepared to face a defamation suit.
“I’ll say it very clearly, (Ramanan) should make proper accusations that I embezzled money or whether I was a scammer,” Khairy said.
“He should not seek an explanation just to undermine my credibility.”
The BN candidate insisted that he had explained all allegations to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and in Parliament, and had also done so publicly many times.
Khairy, who was speaking to reporters during a campaign event here this afternoon, also said Ramanan was repeating and recycling allegations in hopes that it would affect his (Khairy’s) credibility.
“If he’s ready to be sued, then don’t ask me to explain myself again. Make a proper accusation. I’ll see you in court,” Khairy said.
During a rally in Paya Jaras here yesterday, Ramanan had said the caretaker health minister was once known as “the richest unemployed man” in the country when his father-in-law Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was prime minister.
“He should answer about his ECM Libra scandal. At RM14 million, there still has not been an explanation on the matter,” Ramanan said.
In 2005, Khairy purchased 13 million shares from ECM Libra at a discounted RM9.2 million from three shareholders, drawing criticism and accusations of conflict of interest as Abdullah was prime minister and finance minister at the time.
During his speech, Ramanan took a jibe at Khairy as a “fourth-floor boy”, in reference to when the latter was one of Abdullah’s aides who operated on a floor below the prime minister’s office, and who allegedly influenced decisions on various policies and administrative matters.
“His Youth and Sports Ministry scandal of RM107 million and UKSB (Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd) scandal of RM70 million have not been explained until now,” Ramanan had claimed.
He said voters might not remember these scandals as they were “well-hidden” from the internet.
“I am reminding you of these issues because maybe we have forgotten. I do not want to bring up the past, but we have to fight fire with fire – lest we get taken advantage of.”
Ramanan also labelled Khairy as a parachute candidate who had no choice but to contest in Sg Buloh due to problems with his party.
The PKR man claimed that Khairy is a minister of false promises, instead of his renowned title as the “best health minister”.
He accused Khairy of not advocating for frontliners’ rights during the lockdown period and for keeping mum when former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced a state of emergency. – The Vibes, November 7, 2022
