SHAH ALAM - International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz denies claims that he attended the World Cup 2022 match in Qatar.
In a video posted on his social media accounts, he clarified that he did not travel to Qatar, but was in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the signing of a deal between Petronas and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc).
The deal was for a concession in the Middle East for unconventional oil resources.
He said his departure to Abu Dhabi was authorised by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"There were allegations that I missed the cabinet meeting because I wanted to watch the World Cup 2022.
"The football match is not in Abu Dhabi. I went there (Abu Dhabi) on official business.
"Parliament meetings are not like skipping class, if you do not feel like going you do not have to go. Any minister who goes abroad needs the Prime Minister's approval," he said.
He posted the explanatory video after he was criticised for missing the first cabinet meeting of the unity government and was alleged to have attended the World Cup 2022 in Qatar, instead.
In the video, he also explained that it was a historic and largest deal for the oil and gas (O&G) industry as it involved investment between both countries for a period of 30 years.
"This collaboration will see two companies exploring and evaluating Unconventional Onshore Block 1, which covers a concession area of 2,000 square kilometres in the Al Dhafra region.
"We are very proud of Petronas' achievements at the international level. This agreement will diversify the company's sources of income, thus having a positive spillover effect on the country's economy," he said.
He added that the agreement was witnessed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and the UAE president Sheikh Mohamed Zayed Al Nahyan.
Tengku Zafrul also povided a detailed briefing on the agreement, which will be presented in the cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
"Before I return, I had time to visit the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) there. To everyone's knowledge, Matrade is participating in the biggest expo for the trade and building materials sector in Dubai.
"A total of 12 companies from Malaysia also participated in the expo and I am confident that the expertise available will enable them to win projects and contracts in the UAE," he said.