SHAH ALAM: Allegations that Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali has millions of ringgit deposited in banks overseas were made in an attempt to tarnish the image of the new government.
Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said it is clear that this was done to taint Pakatan Harapan’s image in the eyes of the public.
Azmin has since denied the claims made by an anonymous writer in the blog ‘Toyol of Selangor’.
“(Azmin) has responded to this claims and he sees it as a malicious accusation. (His office) had said Azmin plans to take legal action against the owner of the blog.
“In politics, anything is possible. It is our responsibility to be careful with the people around us. This (issue) is a reminder to all (to exercise caution),” he told reporters after attending the Institut Darul Ehsan Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house here today.
Azmin’s press secretary, Mohd Hassanal Bolqiah Mohd Yusoff had in a statement on June 26 said the minister had instructed his legal team to file a request with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to identify the owner of the blog for further action.
The legal action, he said, will be taken with the aim of stopping the libellous claims which aims to jeopardise the reputation of the Economic Affairs Minister.
The ‘Toyol of Selangor’ blog on June 18 had published an article with claims that Azmin had millions of ringgit stashed abroad. The article was subsequently shared via WhatsApp.
The author, who had claimed to be a former staff of Azmin, claimed that he or she had to maintain anonymity for fear of reprisal. The author also claimed that “independent investigators” had linked Azmin with various bank accounts in countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, the UAE, Hong Kong, India, China, Australia, Switzerland and the United States.
WordPress has since suspended the ‘Toyol of Selangor’ blog for breaching its terms of service.
Meanwhile, on Housing and Local Government minister Zuraida Kamaruddin’s plan to build a housing project for the B40 group at the site of the Highland Towers condominium which collapsed 25 years ago, Amirudin said the state government would give full cooperation.
Zuraida had said the Committee on Re-development of Highland Towers would include representatives from the Selangor government, Finance Ministry, Economic Affairs Ministry, Works Ministry, Environment and Natural Resources Ministry, Director-General of Lands and Mines Department, Mineral and Geoscience Department, Drainage and Irrigation Department and the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council.
“The state government is ready to assist. We have an exco in charge of housing, building management and urban living. The exco will liaise directly with the ministry. We welcome any initiatives from the Federal government to develop the country,” Amirudin added.