Opposition politicians do not want the Approved Permits (AP) scandal to be swept under the carpet following the much publicised embrace between International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz and former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

At yesterday's national day parade, the teary-eyed veteran minister hugged Mahathir, leading many to wonder if this amounted to a reconciliation.

In recent months, the duo have crossed swords over the AP issue.

However, a Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leader today dismissed Rafidah's embrace as a charade.

"... I think it's just another drama, similar to her crying at the last Umno assembly," said the party's Federal Territory Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin when contacted.

"This move (hugging Mahathir), as I see it, was to ask for pardon and to ask for the AP story to be closed," she added.

If it was indeed an apology, she said Rafidah should be apologising to Malaysians and not the former premier.

She also questioned how Rafidah could hug a member of the opposite sex in public when Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had recently called on Muslims to refrain from doing so as it was against the religion.

Reveal all

Meanwhile, PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub also did not want the embrace to put a premature end to the AP issue.

"All that's happened between Rafidah and Mahathir in regards to the AP issue should be revealed.

"The discrepancies, in the way business was dealt and government procedures in granting APs, should not be swept under the carpet," he said when contacted.

Rafidah and Mahathir's fallout came about after the former highlighted the irregularities in the distribution of the AP, which is under the International Trade and Industry Ministry.

Mahathir, who is now Proton adviser, claimed that the national car maker was adversely affected by this.

He also revealed how certain individuals were given a large number of the permits resulting in huge losses for the government.

Following this, several quarters called on the minister to resign.