Mukhriz does a U-turn and denies he claims he is from Brunei
PPBM deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir denies saying he tells people overseas he is from Brunei, claiming Sinar Harian ‘quoted him out of context’ in its report.
(FMT) – Mukhriz Mahathir has denied telling Sinar Harian that he sometimes claims to be a citizen of Brunei when overseas, as he was “embarrassed to admit that I’m from Malaysia”.
His press secretary Mohd Fisol Jaafar said that the Malay daily had misquoted the PPBM deputy president, The New Straits Times reported.
“The Sinar Harian reporter had quoted Mukhriz out of context in the published article.
“Mukhriz was speaking about Malaysians in general, who are ashamed by the nation’s ‘tainted image’ in the international arena,” Fisol was quoted as saying.
It was reported yesterday that the former Kedah menteri besar said he was embarrassed as Malaysia was now known only for the wrong reasons and not for its progress.
“Whenever I go abroad or to perform my umrah, when I’m asked which country I am from, I am embarrassed to admit that I’m from Malaysia.
“So, I just answer that I’m from Brunei,” he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.
“If I answer that I’m from Malaysia, people would ask me why our country has so many problems when it used to be so great, but is in such a terrible state now.”
The statement came under attack from Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak, who said it was shameful of Mukhriz to tell others that he is from Brunei.
Salleh turned the tables on Mukhriz, asking why did he not say he was from another country, instead of Brunei.
“How does Mukhriz reply if someone were to ask him about Brunei’s shariah laws?
“Does he say he supports them or does he say he opposes them? If he supports them, then why is Pakatan Harapan opposed to Act 355?”
Salleh was referring to the amendment to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act which PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has tabled in Parliament to enable shariah courts to mete out more severe punishments.
“Never before have we heard any Malaysians claim they are citizens of another country,” Salleh told FMT.
