‘I did not get RM3m from Chia but the car…’

Nazri Abdul Aziz denies receiving RM3 million
from a timber tycoon 'friend' but is unsure
if the latter lent his car to his son.

KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz has denied receiving any money from timber tycoon Michael Chia over a purported RM40 million scandal involving Sabah Umno.

He was responding to Malaysia Today blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin (also known as RPK) who claimed that Nazri and his son Mohamad Nedim received RM3 million and a sports car respectively from Chia.

“Oh no, it’s not true, it’s not true. Chia is a friend. I don’t know if he lent the car to my son. You have to ask my son,” he told FMT in his office this afternoon.

Although he did not directly criticise Raja Petra over the claim, Nazri said that he had no problem with this matter being raised.

“RPK is a social person. He mixes a lot with people, so he probably gets information from them. Then by (Petra) writing this, it gives me the opportunity to give my side of the story,” he said.

Nazri also stressed that he had no influence over the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or the judiciary, adding that if he had, Chia’s case would have been dropped.

In a Malaysia Today report, Raja Petra claimed that Chia personally came to Parliament to hand RM3 million over to Nazri, after the latter allegedly resolved a matter relating to the RM40 million scandal.

He also claimed that Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Attorney-General Abdul Gani-Patail were similarly involved.

It was the AG, MACC decision, not mine

Clarifying the matter further, Nazri said his explanation to the Dewan Rakyat on the RM40 million political funding was made in his capacity as a minister representing the government.

“The public should know that these answers to parliament were prepared by the AG Chambers and the MACC. I was speaking on behalf of the government and not in my personal capacity,” he said.

“People are jumping to say I was trying to cover up the case. But it was MACC that said he was not arrested, not me. I would not have even known if ICAC had closed the case or not.”

Asked why he did not disclose earlier his relationship with Chia, Nazri said the question was not posed in parliament.

“It was not asked to me. I did not know about his (Chia’s) case until this issue was brought up in parliament. I’m not involved in his matters. I just happened to be the minister when the question was asked.”

Nazri said that he would not shy away from the fact that he knew Chia personally, but maintained that he knew nothing about the RM40 million.

“If for example I am close to Anwar (Ibrahim) and he attacks Najib (Tun Razak), I cannot suddenly disassociate myself from him. A friend is a friend,” he said.