Shahidan questions Anwar's disclosure over Bernas

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Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim
ALOR SETAR - Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim says the allegations of him owning shares worth RM400 mil at Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas) was not true.

He further questioned Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim move to only name a few individuals involved in the purchase of shares in addition to publicly announcing the details of the public listed company.

He said he will further explain in the coming Parliamentary sitting that starts on Dec 19.

"I have no shares in Bernas, the owner of Bernas has to answer the issues involved.

"Anwar's revelation is not true.

"He should be paying attention to restoring the country instead of digging up things like that. If you want to dig up, dig up everything because Bernas is a listed company. This is the purchase of shares in the listed company, what's wrong with it?" he told Sinar Harian.

On Monday, Anwar highlighted Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary over monopoly of rice imports and said the latter will contribute RM10 mil this year and RM50 mil next year to poor farmers.

Anwar revealed Syed Mokhtar bought Bernas from Tan Sri Tan Boon Seng for 31 percent (around RM800 million) and RM400 million from a company owned by Shahidan.

However, Shahidan questioned the propriety of Anwar's actions by only mentioning his name when there were more than 1,000 companies listed.

"Do you have to tell everyone everything when you buy stocks in the market?. Why was only my name mentioned? Not only is it not true, but can the prime minister state the purchase of shares in publicly listed companies?

"I am seeking legal advice because this is a listed company," he said.

He added the disclosure has also humiliated him because it is an inaccurate accusation.

"I want to let you know that the accusation is not true, it involves a government company that has been privatised and is a listed company. The purchase of shares has nothing to do with the government," he said.

He also said Bernas was not oppresing the poor.

"Who is sucking the people's money? Bernas does not suck people's money, Bernas only does business. This issue is wasting my time, I should focus on the problems of the people and the extraordinary rise of Perikatan Nasional (PN)," he said.

Shahidan also advised Anwar to focus on efforts to help the rakyat.