ALOR SETAR - Caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor should be aware of the operations of the Kedah State Development Corporation (MBI) as he is the chairman of the organisation, said Kedah Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.
Mahdzir said that Sanusi has the right not to answer questions related to the rare earth elements (REE) issue in Bukit Enggang, Sik, claiming that he did not have executive authority in MBI.
However, as the chairman, he should be aware of the operational aspects of the entity's projects.
"He is the MBI chairman. I recall that my earlier statement was that MBI should not conceal anything about the REE issue. Just tell the truth.
"That statement should come from MBI. Datuk Seri Sanusi is the MBI chairman.
"He knows more than anyone else. How could his CEO and officers not brief him?," he said at a press conference after chairing the Kedah Unity Leadership Council meeting at the Umno headquarters here today.
Mahdzir commented on Sanusi's statement that he only has executive authority over MBI Kedah once he was aware of the entire operational aspects of the entity's projects.
This included the case of two Chinese nationals who were brought into the country by MBI Kedah to conduct REE exploration, as questioned by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Mahdzir, who is also a former Kedah Menteri Besar explained that as the MBI chairman, the response "I have no information" about the REE issue should not come from Sanusi.
"He should have thought twice before saying that. No need to say he doesn't know. How could he not know?" he added.
Mahdzir also pointed out that he previously served as the Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) chairman and still kept track of the organisation's operations even though TNB's management fully managed it.