GEORGE TOWN: “Come to court and I will answer you,”
So said Jelutong member of parliament R.S.N Rayer to those who slammed him for representing a man, who was charged with selling fake birth certificates and MyKads to foreigners.
Rayer said he was willing to answer everyone openly at the Sessions Court here during the proceeding on Sept 26.
“To all this protesting outside my office and holding press conferences and slamming me, come to court and I will answer you. I do not want to comment now,” he said when contacted here today.
Earlier today, Penang MIC chairman Datuk M. Nyanasegaran had ticked off the Dap lawmaker for defending the accused, Datuk Lai Chin Wah.
Nyanasegaran claimed that Rayer’s defence appeared to be in contradiction to the government’s stand on the matter, namely that Lai was involved with the sale of fake MyKads.
“We are concerned because this is involves Rayer’s moral standing as a member of parliament for the ruling coalition.
“Rayer is a representative of the government that had successfully put a stop to the sale of fake MyKads but at the same time he is representing a person accused of selling the fake MyKads.
"It looks like he is trying to wear two hats,” he told reporters.
It was reported that six members of a syndicate selling Malaysian birth certificates and MyKad to foreigners were charged on Sept 12.
The six were NRD assistant director Mohd Faizul Arifin, 34, Lai, 56, Loh Chan Cheong, 34, Chien Guan Chai, 36, Yap Cheng Wah, 44, and Mohd Faizal Tan Abdullah, 56.
They were charged under Section 26E of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, which carries a jail term of between seven and 15 years or a fine of not less than RM50,000, but not more than RM500,000, or both, upon conviction.
Lai was also charged with abetting Mohd Faizul in forging the Malaysian birth certificate and MyKad.
He was charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code for abetting, which carries a jail term of up to seven years or a fine upon conviction.
The syndicate reportedly made between RM100,000 and RM600,000 from selling identity cards to foreigners.