PETALING JAYA: Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz has refuted claims that he was in Qatar to watch the World Cup tournament.
The International Trade and Industry Minister said the allegations against him were slanderous as he was actually in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, to witness an agreement between PETRONAS Abu Dhabi Sdn Bhd and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc).
“When did I ever go to Qatar to watch the World Cup? I was in Abu Dhabi as one of Malaysia’s representatives at the PETRONAS-Adnoc agreement.
“I appeal to Twitterjaya (Twitter users) not to be influenced by fake news,” he said in a video clip that he posted on Twitter yesterday to explain his absence during the first Cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Monday.
He was responding to allegations about his absence from the first Unity Government Cabinet meeting, leading people to believe that he was in the Middle East to watch the World Cup.
Tengku Zafrul added that he did not skip the Cabinet meeting on purpose.
“I just took my oath (as Senator), and the slander and fake news about me skipping the Cabinet meeting to watch the World Cup came up.
“First, the World Cup is being held in Doha, Qatar, while I was in Abu Dhabi. Secondly, I was in Abu Dhabi on official business, not for leisure.
“Any minister who wants to go overseas must get approval from the Prime Minister. If the Prime Minister doesn’t approve, you cannot go,” he added.
Tengku Zafrul said he had informed the MITI secretary-general and senior officials about his Abu Dhabi trip soon after taking his oath.
On the PETRONAS-Adnoc agreement, he said it was a landmark deal for the oil and gas sector because it involves the investment of both countries for a period of 30 years.
PETRONAS Abu Dhabi Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of PETRONAS, inked a historic agreement with Adnoc to explore and appraise Unconventional Onshore Block 1, covering a 2,000 sq km concession in the Al Dhafra region.
It was witnessed by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
