Deputy Speaker denies representing DPM, warns of legal action over Internet gateway project launch speech

Press Conference International Internet Gate, Ahli Parlimen Batu Pahat, YB Datuk Haji Mohd Rashid bin Hasnon launches the International Internet Gate at The Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

PETALING JAYA: Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon strongly denies that he represented Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail at a recent Internet gateway project launch.

The Batu Pahat MP said he was invited to the launch of Enhanced Malaysia International Internet Gateway (EM-IIG) High-Speed Broadband project by XiddiG Cellular Communications Sdn Bhd in his capacity as the former Penang Deputy Chief Minister I.

According to Mohd Rashid, he had attended the event early to hear the launch speech by Dr Wan Azizah.

In a statement on Tuesday (Jan 22), he explained that he was not scheduled to give any speech, or to officiate at the event.
 
He said this was because he was scheduled to head to Parliament just as the Deputy Prime Minister's speech session ended, in order to receive a courtesy call from the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

When the event began, Mohd Rashid said, he was informed by the organisers that Dr Wan Azizah could not attend due to certain unavoidable reasons and he was asked to deliver a speech at the event.

“I was given the speech text by the organisers as a guideline for my speech. I categorically deny that I represented the Deputy Prime Minister at this event. Any statement that says I represented the Deputy Prime Minister is intended to confuse,” he added.

Mohd Rashid urged the organisers to act immediately to correct the situation and clear his name of any confusion.

“If the organisers do not issue any explanation and denial, I will not hesitate to consider legal action against them,” he warned.

The Deputy Prime Minister's Office has warned all organisations against using or distributing the content of the text of the speech in the name of the Deputy Prime Minister without permission.

In a statement, it said that Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had never approved the text of the speech that was delivered at the event.
 
It also said that Dr Wan Azizah had not delegated anyone to read out the text of the speech.

According to media reports, the text of the speech of the Deputy Prime Minister was read out by Mohd Rashid at the launch of the EM-IIG project at a hotel in Shah Alam.

The reports said the RM5.45bil project encompassed the installation of the world's largest optical fibre involving a 110,000-km line that would enable Malaysia to have the fastest Internet access speed with the 5G platform in South-East Asia by 2022.