International Trade and Industry Ministry Rafidah Aziz today ruled out the need to provide further explanation on the Approved Permit (AP) issue.

She said the explanation on the issue had been given in Parliament and at the Umno General Assembly.

"We have nothing more to add. To me, there is nothing more on the issue, nothing to add," added the Wanita Umno chief.

She said all the explanations had been made and similar explanations would be given at the level of the grassroots.

Rafidah was commenting on her former boss Dr Mahathir Mohamad's queries on the discrepancies pertaining to the issuance of APs.

"I even wrote to Tun (Mahathir) you see. I already explained to him. But if they want to put it into (a) formal (thing), we can give back the same information. There's nothing more to add," she said.

Mahathir had first opened the AP can of worms last year. The former premier had questioned why certain individuals were given a lion's share of the permits.

Local manufacturers affected

This prompted calls for Rafidah's resignation and allegations of corruption. The veteran minister dubbed the Iron Lady was also reduced to tears.

She had even hugged her former boss on one occasion.

Mahathir, who is also Proton adviser, said the AP policy was affecting local car manufacturers.

He renewed his criticism on the issue recently when he launched a series of attacks against his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Apart from the AP issue, Mahathir had questioned the government's decision to scrap the half bridge project, Proton's decision not to renew the contract of its former chief executive officer and the sale of Italian motorcycle manufacturer MV Augusta to a euro 2 company.

Last week, Abdullah said the relevant ministries would explain the issues raised by the former premier.