PM ANWAR ASSURES NO PROTECTION FOR INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN MISCONDUCT, CORRUPTION - FAHMI

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 28 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has assured that the government will not protect any individual suspected of being involved in misconduct or corruption, including his former senior political secretary, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said Anwar stressed this when he told the Cabinet about Syamsul Iskandar's resignation on Tuesday (Nov 25).

Fahmi, who is also the MADANI Government spokesman, said the Prime Minister also reiterated his stance that any misconduct must be thoroughly investigated by the authorities, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), without exception.

"The Prime Minister also reminded all Cabinet ministers always to conduct monitoring, especially their officers, and not to protect anyone if any case of misconduct occurs,” he said at the weekly media conference here today.

Asked about Shamsul Iskandar's status in Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Fahmi said the matter needs to be discussed at the party's upcoming Central Leadership Council meeting.

"So, perhaps we should wait until the next council meeting. Since he just resigned from his post as senior political secretary (to the Prime Minister), there have been no discussions in the party about any political appointments (involving Shamsul Iskandar),” he said.

Shamsul Iskandar, the PKR International Bureau chairman, tendered his resignation as the Prime Minister's senior political secretary following alleged attempts to discredit him with matters that could tarnish the image of the MADANI Government.

The media also reported that Shamsul Iskandar presented himself at the MACC Headquarters today to have his statement recorded regarding corruption allegations made by a businessman, known as Albert Tei.

-- BERNAMA