IN an unceasing attack on fellow Perikatan Nasional (Perikatan) leaders, Umno supreme council member Datuk Puad Zarkashi urged Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Edmund Santhara Kumar to clarify whether the latter holds a permanent resident (PR) status at New Zealand.
“I’m merely repeating the same question Hassan Abdul Karim (Pasir Gudang MP) asked Santhara. Does he hold a PR status in New Zealand?
“If the claims are true, does it mean he has to stay there for a certain period of time annually to keep the status?
“If yes, that would explain why Santhara is adamant on staying put there, on top of getting a long 55-days break,” he said, in a Facebook post.
Earlier this month, PKR MP P Prabakaran had questioned the prolonged absence of Santhara, adding the latter had gone to visit his family in New Zealand when the nation was facing a crisis.
PM should investigate Santhara
Santhara, who is also Segamat MP, later issued a statement saying Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had approved his application for 55 days leave to visit his family, citing that his wife was unwell and he had not seen his nine-year old son for nearly a year.
He also threatened to file defamation suits against Prabakaran and others who had questioned his absence, claiming it was slanderous and had tarnished his image.
Two days ago, his long-time friend, Hassan urged Santhara to explain his decision to the public, adding he felt responsible for the current situation as he was the one who supported the latter’s candidacy back in 2018, as a PKR candidate.
Training his guns against Santhara, Puad accused the former of prioritising his PR status above his constituents in Segamat.
“And the Government must answer this as well. How can they approve such a long leave just for the sake of retaining one’s PR status? It seems like the Government collaborated with him.
“The Prime Minister should order an investigation and instruct Santhara to return home. I’m sure the voters in Segamat are fuming,” the former deputy minister opined. – March 14, 2021.
