Pak Lah denies cover-up, 'Rais is innocent'
Published: Jan 8, 2011 10:03 PM | Updated: Jan 8, 2011 10:14 PM
Former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today said he had kept silent on the alleged molest case involving Dr Rais Yatim because he was of the opinion that the incident did not take place.
Former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today said he had kept silent on the alleged molest case involving Dr Rais Yatim because he was of the opinion that the incident did not take place.
Denying that he had sought to protect the information, communication and culture minister, Abdullah said he was of the opinion that the allegation by the blogger and the opposition was baseless.
In fact, the incident had never been reported to him throughout his tenure as prime minister from 2003 to 2009, he said at a media conference on the allegation that he had not issued a statement then because he wanted to protect the accused.
"I don't know (about the case). What is there to cover up? It's improper for them to make such accusation.
"What's the purpose of giving a statement? The accusation is not true. Now that you have asked, I give you the statement. I certainly did not receive any report on the allegation," he said.
Earlier, Abdullah officially opened 'The Abdullah Yusuf Ali Memorial Lecture' and launched the book 'The History of the Quranic Text' written by M M Al-A'zami at the Auditorim Kolej Universiti MAHSA.
Maid, Rais deny allegation
In the blog concerned, Rais, who was then the minister of culture, arts and heritage, was alleged to have molested his former domestic maid and that the Abdullah administration was alleged to have kept quiet in order to avoid a diplomatic fallout with Indonesia.
Abdulah said he was not bothered about the issue played up in the Internet because he was convinced that the incident had never taken place.
"If
what is being said is not true, then the victim will certainly react and in this case, Dr Rais has made a statement denying it," he said.
On Wednesday, Rais (left) had denied the allegation that he was involved in a molest case in 2007 as well as all the other allegations made by the blogger in the Internet as well as by the opposition.
Yesterday, the detik.com news portal had reported that Rais's former domestic maid, who was alleged to have been molested, had denied the allegation against Rais, adding that the minister was a kind man and had no problem with her.
She pointed out that the news that stated she had been molested was totally incorrect.
- Bernama
Denying that he had sought to protect the information, communication and culture minister, Abdullah said he was of the opinion that the allegation by the blogger and the opposition was baseless.In fact, the incident had never been reported to him throughout his tenure as prime minister from 2003 to 2009, he said at a media conference on the allegation that he had not issued a statement then because he wanted to protect the accused.
"I don't know (about the case). What is there to cover up? It's improper for them to make such accusation.
"What's the purpose of giving a statement? The accusation is not true. Now that you have asked, I give you the statement. I certainly did not receive any report on the allegation," he said.
Earlier, Abdullah officially opened 'The Abdullah Yusuf Ali Memorial Lecture' and launched the book 'The History of the Quranic Text' written by M M Al-A'zami at the Auditorim Kolej Universiti MAHSA.
Maid, Rais deny allegation
In the blog concerned, Rais, who was then the minister of culture, arts and heritage, was alleged to have molested his former domestic maid and that the Abdullah administration was alleged to have kept quiet in order to avoid a diplomatic fallout with Indonesia.
Abdulah said he was not bothered about the issue played up in the Internet because he was convinced that the incident had never taken place.
"If
what is being said is not true, then the victim will certainly react and in this case, Dr Rais has made a statement denying it," he said.On Wednesday, Rais (left) had denied the allegation that he was involved in a molest case in 2007 as well as all the other allegations made by the blogger in the Internet as well as by the opposition.
Yesterday, the detik.com news portal had reported that Rais's former domestic maid, who was alleged to have been molested, had denied the allegation against Rais, adding that the minister was a kind man and had no problem with her.
She pointed out that the news that stated she had been molested was totally incorrect.
- Bernama
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