Tun Mahathir silent when questioned about ‘false certificate’
KUALA LUMPUR – In the midst of busy discussion on how the country’s integrity was polluted due to the corruption scandals by the previous government, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was briefly silent when he was questioned by the opposition.
Pontian MP Datuk Ahmad Maslan questioned on the current government initiatives (Pakatan Harapan) following the recent phenomenon of false certificate scandals by PH leaders.
In addition, Ahmad Maslan also questioned what was happening with the promise of an unfinished manifesto until now, moreover, the government is now considered to be cleaner and with integrity.
However, Tun Mahathir, who is also the Member of Parliament of Langkawi, chooses not to ‘treat’ the issue of false certificates associated with some elected representatives in his Cabinet, but only responds to the manifesto. “We are working on ensuring that the manifesto’s promise can be fulfilled but because the previous government’s actions other than the old legislation did not facilitate the current government’s efforts.
“We should have seen those who have been charged with financial offenses such as SRC and 1MDB have been brought before the courts but because of the provisions of this existing law, we have to comply. We obey and adhere to the ‘rule of law’. People are also wondering at this point, we are working but we have to adhere to the rule of law,” he said.
Ahmad Maslan then stood up asking Tun Mahathir’s enlightenment on fake certificates but was not answered apart from being asked to be seated by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md. Yusof. “The fake certificate does not answer Tun, please answer,” said Ahmad Maslan.
It created dissatisfaction among the opposition blocs but it does not get the attention of the government or Mahathir himself. The issue of using fake academic certificates received public attention following the disclosure of some Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders alleged to have the certificate.
Previously, Deputy Foreign Minister’s academic qualification, Datuk Marzuki Yahaya; Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian and Tronoh State Assemblyman Paul Yong Choo Kiong are in doubt.
In fact, some PH leaders have been linked to issues such as the Certificate of Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and Minister of Housing and Local Government Zuraidah Kamaruddin.
