Army vets want 'corrupt' junior minister to go
INTERVIEW The Malay Army Veterans' Association's (PVTM) crosshairs are not trained at Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan alone, but also at certain corrupt ministers.
INTERVIEW The Malay Army Veterans' Association's (PVTM) crosshairs are not trained at Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan alone, but also at certain corrupt ministers.
Its president Mohamad Ali Baharom told Malaysiakini that this includes a junior minister, whom he would not name, whose son allegedly received a RM30 million government contract through dubious means, according to Internet rumours.
"I ask the corrupt minister to immediately tender his resignation. Even if it was the minister's son who pocketed the RM30 million contract, he should say that he is quitting politics because he and his son were involved.
"Only then would people respect him. A minister must take responsibility," he said during a recent interview.
The only hint on the identity of the minister that Mohamad Ali was willing to share was that the politician concerned had a military background.
Mohamad Ali however stopped short of declaring that the minister concerned would be subject to the posterior exercise routine performed by the group in front of Ambiga's house on May 15.
The stunt caused them to be on the butt end of much ridicule and accusations that they were BN henchmen, a claim which Mohamad Ali dismissed as untrue.
He said it was incumbent upon Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin to fulfill their promise to crack down on graft amongst BN leaders that he said is eroding public trust in the government.
"The PM and DPM should not be afraid to remove those whose corruption is destroying the party - immediately sack them before the corruption virus spreads.
"If they eradicate graft, people will support the government," he reasoned, adding that in fighting corruption, the army veterans are willing to be the "eyes and ears" of the government to pinpoint any wrongdoings.
Rosmah's critics should stop
However, Mohamad Ali urged those "telling tales" about Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor to cease their attacks.
"We see how some are saying things about Rosmah, talking about RM24 million ring and what not.
"You don't have to ask that, because Rosmah (left) has brought many developments to our country.
"When she is overseas, you do not know what she does. When she returns home, she brings back new ideas for Malaysians... to change and go forward."
Instead of throwing brickbats, he said the rakyat should thank Najib and Rosmah for often going to the ground to meet them.
"If others marry a datuk, they will only stay in saloons, why would they go to political events? It is very hot and people will curse at your husband. Why should they go, right?
"But this couple are individuals with very sharp minds who, while constantly tested by the good and the bad, are still always with us."
He advised Rosmah's critics to stop making accusations that "can hurt the feelings of others", though to him, he feels that Rosmah doesn't give mind to such allegations.
"She just goes on forward... we too should just do our job and stop disparaging or hurting the feelings of others. We don't know what really happened."
He lamented that even if a person does a hundred good deeds, the world will only remember the one bad deed that a person may have mistakenly committed.
VIDEO | 4.46 mins
Related reports
