KUALA LUMPUR – Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said he could not have leaked confidential information from joint Kedah-federal council meetings on development projects, as alleged by Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, because no such meetings have been held since the latter was appointed council co-chairman.
Sanusi accused Saifuddin of being “illogical” and exaggerating his accusations to discredit the Kedah government.
“He (Saifuddin) is especially out to create various issues to damage the reputation of the menteri besar, exco and state government officials.
“He has no real idea of what is discussed in the state development action council meetings because he has never held one,” Sanusi said on Facebook today.
“Saifuddin was appointed co-chairman representing the federal government after Pakatan Harapan formed the unity government following the 15th general election in November 2022. Since then, this important council has never called for meetings,” Sanusi said.
“There has not been a leak… I have attended much higher-level meetings, with the prime minister, with the Malay rulers, with national councils on finance, land, water, local government, physical planning, and more, without any problems. No government secrets have been leaked (from those meetings).
“He (Saifuddin) should actually admit that this is his problem, not mine,” Sanusi added.
Saifuddin, who is also home minister, said Sanusi’s inability to be discreet was the reason why no Kedah state development action council meetings have been held. The council is a joint state-federal body overseeing federal infrastructure projects in Kedah.
Saifuddin had also accused Sanusi of twisting information from council meetings when making political speeches.
The war of words between the two began after Sanusi revealed in the Kedah legislative assembly on March 7 that the federal-state council had not met since November 2022.
Sanusi also said he had asked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to replace Saifuddin for another co-chairman when he met the latter in Putrajaya several months ago. – March 11, 2024