Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today his statement on the alleged misconduct of the son of a leading opposition leader had been “putar belit” (twisted) and “inaccurately” portrayed in news reports on alternative news portals.

Muhyiddin's reaction came about after he was lambasted by an opposition MP while winding up on the allocation for the Education Ministry during the 2012 Budget debate, over his comments, as reported by a news website, that a denial by the opposition personality was “not enough” to absolve his family member of the accusations.

tony pua and lim kit siang press conference 191011 02 Ipoh Timor MP Lim Kit Siang intervened during Muhyiddin's winding up and asked how a minister in charge of education and the welfare of young students could prolong the allegations by making such a statement, especially tsince the principal of the school as well as the state education department had denied that such an incident took place.

A web portal yesterday quoted Muhyiddin as saying that a denial by the opposition personality was “not enough” to absolve his family member of the accusation, and that a police report was necessary to clear the air.

However, other media reports only reported the Umno deputy president as asking the opposition personality to lodge a police report on the allegation.

"That was my purpose, I did not want to interfere. Please understand my intention. It (my intention) was not bad. there was no ill feeling....

'Let police investigate'

“I had no problem, but it is the perception of some. The root issue was to get an independent body (to investigate), so the (allegations) will be cleared. This is not about politics," Muhyiddin said.

NONE The Pagoh MP added that as a father, he too,understood and would not want his son to be dragged into political mudslinging.

His real intent, he explained, was to ask that a police report be lodged so as to let the police investigate the matter and find out the truth once and for all.

"The YBs from the other side always ask for an RCI or police report as their usual response.

“They want to get their right and find out the truth, but they did not do so (in this matter) yet want the authorities to look into it. Let them (the police) investigate and this will clear the slander," concluded Muhyiddin.

Guan Eng has been engaged in a running media battle with pro-Umno bloggers and BN politicians over allegations that his son had molested a fellow student and was transferred over the incident.

Guan Eng himself has been accused of making a RM200,000 payment to the parents of the alleged victim, UK national Anya Anne Corke, in order to cover up matter to save his son.

'Why should it be on Guan Eng?'

Refusing to let Muhyiddin go his statement in the Dewan Rakyat, Kit Siang later today questioned why Guan Eng need even lodge a plice report to clear his son's name as the deputy premier had urged.

NONE This given the denial by Guan Eng, the alleged victim, the principal of the school where the alleged incident had occurred, as well as the Penang education department director, said the senior Lim.

"I am not in favor (of Guan Eng going to the police) as the denials by the school principal, the Penang education director Ahmad Tarmizi Kamaruddin and Anya Corke have destroyed the downright lie of the molestation allegation to utter smithereens.

"As responsible and decent education minister, Muhyiddin should have laid the allegation to rest in Parliament once and for all by declaring his full support and confidence in the denials of the school principal concerned and that of the Penang state education director," said Kit Siang in a statement. 

The mother of the alleged victim has said she has not ruled out legal action on the matter in order to protect her daughter from such accusations.

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