KUCHING: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has dismissed Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz’s allegation that 40,000ha of army land had been transferred to a private company owned by three individuals.
Hishammuddin labeled the accusations made by the former International Trade and Industry Minister in an open letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak as “full of misinformation and in some cases outright lies.”
“I heard about what Rafidah said and I think it is full of misinformation and in some cases outright lies,” he said.
Hishammuddin said Rafidah’s allegation that a company run by three persons owned every inch of Mindef’s (Defence Ministry) assets in Malaysia was false.
“That is strictly not true and a blatant lie. In her statement, she alleged that this three person company makes all decisions regarding Mindef land is also untrue and an outright lie,” he said after launching a ceremony to confer an honourary title of Territorial Army Brigadier General to Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg in the Muara Tuang camp in Kota Samarahan, here.
Hishammuddin also responded to Rafidah’s allegations implicating him.
“Her accusation against me that we are going to look at Mindef land for large scale commercial agricultural project, that is also untrue and an outright lie.
“I was discussing food security with the Agriculture (and agro-based industries) Minister and nothing has happened since then.
“That was two to three years ago. And for her to make those false statements… I don’t know what her objective is,” he said.
Hishammuddin however gave an assurance that he would not let the reputation of his ministry and the wellbeing of the men and women who serve the country through the armed forces be tarnished.
He said Rafidah’s accusations would be exposed as blatant lies.
“For a member of the cabinet at that time who was part of the decision made at that time to make false allegations and lies on these three issues I believe she is not at all responsible.
“After this, I will get Mindef to reply, I will get LTAT (Armed Forces Fund) to reply. I have asked for the cabinet minutes to see what her allegations are. We will get to the bottom of this,” Hishammuddin said.
In her open letter, Rafidah alleged that Najib had proposed the privatisation of 40,000 ha of land owned by the Armed Forces with a lease of 40 years and without undergoing an open bidding process.
She said Najib had proposed that the privatisation be directly awarded to a company owned by three individuals, two men and a woman.
Rafidah - who served for over two decades under Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, said she was the only one who questioned the plan during cabinet meetings, including on why LTAT was not chosen for the proposed privatisation.
On another matter, Hishammuddin said there would be no difficulty in retaining Sarawak as Barisan Nasional’s fortress due to the solid support it received from the grassroots.
“This is the advantage that Sarawak has. Its people always unite to uphold the government and leaders.
“ This has been achieved by the BN leadership. It is very committed in addressing and championing people’s issues,” he said.