SHAH ALAM, 11 Dec: Following a phone call from the Prime Minister’s Office, the online version of Astro Awani retracted the news regarding Datuk A.Kadir Jasin’s proposal for the Prime Minister’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, to be appointed as a minister.
The news which was published the day before was no longer on the website since yesterday afternoon, but the original writing of the former Chief Editor of New Straits Times Press (NSTP) is still up.
According to The Malaysian Insider, when an employee of Astro Awani was contacted, it was informed that it was removed on the orders of the Prime Minister’s Office.
However, the author of the website, when contacted, refused to give any confirmation and asked his superiors to answer.
When Kadir was contacted, he was unaware of the retraction of the news.
He declined to comment on the matter and said that article titled “PAU 2013: Between Love and Service” published on Sunday is a view of the average citizen and journalist.
“I do not know anything regarding the retraction of the Astro Awani news or any media portal, so I cannot answer on that question.
“However, this article is based on my rights as a journalist and a citizen who is free to express anything, as long as it does not violate laws and regulations in the constitution,” he said.
He said that his blog posts can be used any media to be changed into a news article as long as the source is quoted.
Previously, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, at the Umno General Assembly 2013, commended his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, for her services to the country.
In addition to helping flood victims, Najib revealed that Rosmah is also meritorious as she freed a Malaysian student, who was arrested by the Egyptian authorities for being suspected as a spy, by simply telephoning the wife of the Egyptian President, Suzanne Mubarak.
Rosmah is also said to have used her influence with the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia to liberate Malaysian students stranded in Egypt during the Arab Spring to enter the country without a visa.
Following that, Kadir, in his blog, suggested that Rosmah should be given a ministerial position, and perhaps even the position as Prime Minister.
He said that Najib’s revelation has caused the positions of the foreign affairs minister and other ministers to be reviewed because they are incomparable to Rosmah in resolving international crises.