RPK has no credibility to comment on national issues, says Saifuddin

Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Raja Petra Kamarudin’s decision to flee Malaysia in 2009 showed that he lacks the integrity to provide meaningful comments. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin has no credibility to comment on current national issues, says home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

Raja Petra moved to the UK after being charged with sedition in 2009 over an open letter he wrote in connection with a then-prevailing constitutional crisis in Perak.

On Saturday, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain reportedly said Raja Petra was being sought over claims that there had been efforts to unseat the ruling government via the “Dubai Move”.

“He chose to be in another country rather than face his legal issues, so he lacks credibility to comment at this point,” said Saifuddin in a Bernama report.

“I don’t want to say more as it won’t change the facts.

“It’s better to manage and ensure people’s welfare than be bothered about him … It’s a waste of (space) in the newspapers as well,” he told reporters after visiting a flood mitigation project in Alor Setar today.

On Saturday, Razarudin said the police were liaising with the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to decide the next course of action against Raja Petra.

Raja Petra said the government would need an order from a UK court and approval from the British home office before he can be arrested with a view to extradition.

However, he has expressed his willingness to have his statement regarding the “Dubai Move” recorded, provided the Malaysian authorities cover his expenses.

Speculation about the so-called “Dubai Move” arose last month in reference to alleged discussions in the United Arab Emirates between opposition leaders and certain government representatives to unseat the ruling coalition.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other government leaders have played down talk about the meeting, supposedly aimed at dividing the tasks among “agents” to identify MPs who would defect to the opposition.

Raja Petra later posted a YouTube video claiming that the opposition had secured 120 statutory declarations (SDs) by MPs saying they do not support Anwar’s government. He claimed the SDs had been sent to the King.

An MP requires the support of at least 112 MPs in the 222-member Dewan Rakyat to become the prime minister.

Anwar’s government has the support of 147 MPs through an alliance among Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional, East Malaysian parties, and other MPs.