AHEAD of the soon-to-be-expected 15th General Elections (GE15), I have been made attack material for PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli.
Rafizi’s political game is easy – he and PKR are trying to show that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) leaders are also corrupt and not fit to be chosen during GE15.
The defamation tactic employed by Rafizi pertains to the forensic report by Alliance IFA Sdn Bhd to Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Berhad (BHIC).
Rafizi contends that I have a second wife named Zainab Mohd Salleh and that Zainab got a multi-million defence contract from the Defence Ministry (Mindef) for the littoral combat ship (LCS) project when I was deputy defence minister. Therefore, whatever Zainab did also implies wrongdoing on my part.
However, the Alliance document is only a draft that has not been signed nor gotten authentication as to its contents.
Rafizi is not only dishonest but deliberately slanderous in trying to hide the fact that there is a real forensic report signed by Alliance which clearly does not mention that Zainab is my second wife.
Rafizi also covered up the fact that the introduction of the forensic report clearly gave a “Notice to the Reader” warning as follows: “In compiling this report, we have relied on oral and documentary representations made to us by people associated with the issues relating to our review.
The warning also added: “We were unable to assess the veracity of these representations.”
My explanation
Even though I have given an explanation, Rafizi continues with his lies. So with this, I make a true and honest explanation as follows:
- I do not have any wife or ex-wife named Zainab Mohd Salleh
- Whatever this Zainab does has nothing to do with me
- I was the deputy defence minister from 2009 until 2013
- The LCS contract date to Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) was made on July 17, 2014
- I did not play any role in the LCS contract
- My family did not get any defence or supply contracts with Mindef when I was the deputy defence minister
I hope Rafizi will be more honest in politics. His lies not only deceive the public but threaten the people’s trust in the Government to the point that it can affect national security when the explanation that needs to be made reveals national defence secrets to the public.
If Rafizi is really sure that this Zainab is my second wife, then please submit proof.
As a member of the Cabinet, I am ready to be investigated to prove the truth of what I said.
Stop spreading slander. – Aug 28, 2022
Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad is a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (special functions) and the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) MP for Mersing.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main photo credit: FMT
