|
PM denies
interest in
UN's RM2.96b
Oil-for-Food
Programme
PUTRAJAYA:
Prime
Minister
Datuk Seri
Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi
yesterday
denied any
personal
interest in
the US$800
million
(RM2.96
billion)
United
Nations
Oil-for-Food
Programme in
Iraq.
"Anyone can
say whatever
they want
and he knows
what he has
done.
"I have got
no interest
(in the
programme)..
recommending
people an
opportunity
to
participate
does not
imply that I
have been
involved in
any
dealings. It
is quite
normal for
government
leaders to
write
letters of
introduction
for any
particular
group
seeking
genunie
business
opportunities,"
he said.
The prime
minister was
responding
to
allegations
posted on
the internet
that he
benefited by
recommending
his
sister-in-law's
company for
the
programme
using his
office as
the then
deputy prime
minister.
The internet
posting
referred to
two reports
on the
programme,
namely:
-
Charles
Duelfer
-
Comprehensive
Report
of the
Special
Adviser
to the
Director
of the
Central
Intelligence
on
Iraq's
Weapons
of Mass
Destruction,
Sept 30,
2004;
and
-
Paul A.
Volcker
-
Independent
Enquiry
Committee
into The
United
Nations
Oil-for
Food
Programme
(Manipulation
of the
Oil-for-Food
Programme
by the
Iraqi
Regime)
Oct 27,
2005
(the "Volcker
Report"
in
short).
Both reports
named
Abdullah's
connection
to the
programme
via
Malaysian
companies.
The prime
minister
spoke to
reporters
after
chairing a
meeting of
ulama on
current
issues in
his office
here.
Asked on the
proposal by
Inspector-General
of Police
Tan Sri Musa
Hassan to
reduce the
speed limit
during
festive
seasons to
help lower
the accident
rate,
Abdullah,
who is also
Internal
Security
Minister,
said:
"It was also
an idea
which I
brought up
with Musa. I
told him to
discuss the
matter with
the relevant
government
departments
and
agencies.
"Many
accidents
occur during
festive
seasons.
It's better
to be late
and arrive
safely."
To another
question,
Abdullah
adviced
Non-Governmental
Organisations
and others
to avoid
creating
discomfort
among
Malaysians
when raising
religious
and racial
issues.
He said such
issues
should not
be discussed
openly as it
was already
agreed upon
in "our
social
contract" or
the Federal
Constitution. |
