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PM And Minister Allowed to Duck for Cover

PM And Minister Allowed to Duck for Cover

The public can rightly label the Whitehead report a cover-up given it ignored the involvement of the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Malaysian diplomat case, says New Zealand First Leader and Member of Parliament for Northland Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“The report is totally inadequate and flawed as it failed to scrutinise the actions of the minister and prime minister – it singled out a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade botch-up.

“The report says ministry officials did not meet their obligations to inform ministers but the same report states Foreign Minister Murray McCully was first advised at 10am on a Saturday morning, only hours after the serious incident, and around the time diplomat Rizalman appeared in court.

“From that point on the minister was well aware of what was happening. The Prime Minister was aware of it also. He was briefed two days after the minister. So why wasn’t Rizalman’s passport surrendered?

“It took Mr McCully 12 days after the diplomat was charged to front up and explain the government’s involvement by which time the diplomat had fled the country.

“The public can only conclude the minister and prime minister knew of the cover-up and of a tacit agreement that diplomat Rizalman could flee the country.

“The report says the young woman was left for a considerable time with the impression she would not see justice done in New Zealand. That is outrageous.”

ENDS

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