Nazri will not apologise to Kuok, but welcomes his denial

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 27 Feb 2018 5:19PM · 6 Comments

Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Aziz has stood by his criticism of Robert Kuok, saying it was good that Kuok denied the allegations but he should have done it much earlier. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, February 28, 2018.

NAZRI Aziz will not apologise to Robert Kuok over his remarks, even though the tycoon’s office has denied claims he is funding DAP to topple Barisan Nasional at the next general election.

The tourism and culture minister said he had made his remarks based on an allegation in the Malaysia Today blog post by Raja Petra Kamarudin.

He said Kuok had not denied the claim posted in Raja Petra’s blog.

“I will not apologise. My statement was based on an allegation made by Raja Petra which had not been denied (by Kuok),” he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

The Umno Supreme Council member said it was good that Kuok denied the allegation, but he should have done it much earlier.

“If he had denied the allegation immediately after it appeared, the situation would not have come to this stage,” he said.

“I welcome it (the denial) and I wish to tell him that all the statements made earlier were based on reports which had not been denied,” he said.

Nazri urged Kuok to take legal action against Raja Petra to clear his name.

“It is not enough to just issue a denial,” he said.

Kuok has denied funding DAP to oust the government, as alleged by Raja Petra. Kuok’s office said he reserved the right to sue the blogger over the allegation.

The Hong-Kong based billionaire came under fire from Umno leaders, including Prime Minister Najib Razak, who made comments targeting him, following Raja Petra’s accusation in his blog that Kuok had been channelling funds to DAP.

Umno leader Tajuddin Abdul Rahman had told Kuok “not to forget his roots”, while Prime Minister Najib Razak said Kuok could not have made his fortune without the Malaysian government’s help.

The harshest words came from Nazri, who called Kuok a “pondan” (effeminate) and dared him to return to Malaysia to contest in the 14th general election.

MCA religious harmony bureau chairman Ti Lian Ker hit out at Nazri, saying the attack was not in keeping with Malaysian culture and that Kuok was a businessman whose success had also benefited Malaysians in general.

Kuok yesterday said he was mulling legal action against Raja Petra and his blog Malaysia Today.

Kuok’s office said in a statement yesterday that Raja Petra made false allegations in three articles published between February 21 and 23.

Kuok made his fortune importing sugar into Malaysia, parlaying that business into a Hong Kong-based empire that spanned commodities and hotels. – February 27, 2018.

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Comments

  • Why he believes RPK when before he got ought, they attacked with venom?? Clearly Najib ( actually Rosmah) bought RPK. Which means he was speaking for Najib - and Najib usstong on the facts and even argument. How about apologizing for Najib for being just wrong on the facts and argument and deed?

    Posted 6 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • Challenging a business legend in the political arena is not a fair challenge. Why dont YB challenge him in the business arena? You are able to express your thoughts without being penalize because of your ministerial position. So does that make you a pondan?
    Worst part...you made the assumption that he has funded the opposition based on "unreliable reports" which is deemed fake news now. And yet no apology? Come on...be a gentlemen.
    When the memoirs were out, many came out denying his biography. Isn't what he has written a reflection of his life. He is entitled to share his side of story.
    Let us be a humble Malaysian respecting each other irregardless of race, religion which is tearing the nation apart!
    There is a saying:
    "In your prime, do not be arrogant, because when tides turn, you will be worst of than your beginning."

    Posted 6 years ago by Ready4Change For Good · Reply

  • He whack those in mca but he never whack Guan Eng

    Posted 6 years ago by Leslie Chan · Reply

  • Nazri is the Poster Boy of umno - moronic, trashy & arrogant. Whenever he opens his mouth - it is another nail on the coffin of umno. We have a similar manager in our company that thinks from his rectum rather his brain. A dictator with a penchant for bullying, mistook unsolicited sexual harassment for motivation and bankrupt of idea with the exception for filthy sex joke. Within 4 years - the company sink into the bottom of the jamban. Read for toxic management at changenow083.blogspot.com

    Posted 6 years ago by Chris Ng · Reply

  • This is purely true UMNO culture . The so called Senior Minister saying he was relying on RPK report. RPK is a fugitive and in self exile and just think Senior Minister believing RPK and pouring unwarranted words. He could have easily confirm with Robert Kuok himself IF THE SO CALL SENIOR MINISTER IS INTERESTED
    .GE 14 SHOULD BE THE LAST FOR UMNO.

    Posted 6 years ago by Mohanarajan murugeson · Reply

  • RPK is proving quite a bad choice if it is indeed true that his paymasters are now on the BN side as some have alleged. And one of the collateral damage victims may well be his own daughter, Raja Sara Petra. She has been rising in prominence as a newly minted Gerakan member, already entrusted to oversee the party's National Transformation 2050 plans. Her Facebook featured a number of Gerakan events where she is front-and-center. Gerakan may have had some intention to field her in the looming GE14.

    It will now be very awkward for her, with the likelihood of reporters hurling questions about her father's accusations against Robert Kuok. There may also be irate citizens heckling her. Some may say it is poetic justice.

    Posted 6 years ago by K TWong · Reply