REE: Anwar clarifies Indonesian man's presence in Kedah

JITRA - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has clarified that the Indonesian man brought to Kedah was to meet the state ruler Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah.

Anwar said he did not meet caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor while in Kedah.

"(Yes) I brought him (to Kedah). Was it to meet you (Muhammad Sanusi)? (No) I went to address Tuanku Sultan.

"What is the problem with meeting the sultan? Someone (Sanusi) said I was trying to do business. I do not do business. But if others want to, then let them. I went to meet Tuanku," he said while speaking at the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-Barisan Nasional (BN) operations room compound in Jitra on Friday.

In a jibe, Anwar advised Sanusi not to make allegations about the Indonesian man, reminding the Kedah Perikatan Nasional (PN) Chairman of his ongoing court case with the Selangor Sultan.

He questioned if Sanusi intended to start picking a fight with the Kedah ruler.

"I've met the Kedah sultan many times. In Kuala Lumpur, in Kedah, everywhere. I'm the prime minister; my job is to ensure a good relationship between the people and me. I also need to maintain my relationship with the rulers," he said.

Anwar said he wondered why his actions of meeting the state ruler became an issue.

Previously, Sanusi claimed that Anwar had brought an Indonesian businessman to apply for rare earth element (REE) mining in Kedah.

Responding to the allegations, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the Indonesian man's presence in Kedah had nothing to do with REE.