International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz came under intense pressure today for allegedly resorting to underhand tactics over the Approved Permits (AP) controversy in order to silence members of Parliament.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said he has reported to Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak the unhappiness of the MPs over the release of the AP list Tuesday.

During a press conference at the Parliament lobby later, Nazri said most MPs were angry with Rafidah.

"(They) are most angry with the fact that her (Rafidah's) name is not on the (MPs with APs) list , as if she is trying to show that she was right.

"(She) is using this arm-twisting (tactic) against MPs so that they don't raise the matter again," he said. Mohd Nazri's name is also on the list.

Najib was also seen in Parliament although he was not scheduled to answer any questions today. He however left without making any comments to the media.

Telling absence

Mohd Nazri said the MPs were also annoyed with Rafidah's continued absence when there were AP-related questions being raised in the Dewan Rakyat.

He said she should heed Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's instruction that all ministers must be present in Parliament to field questions.

"Due to the (her) absence, many questions remain unanswered. If she is really keen to answer, she could have given the replies.

"There are so many questions on the AP and she could have gathered and replied them in one go while she was still in the country," said the minister in charge of parliamentary affairs.

Rafidah's continued absence, he said, gave the impression that she was trying to avoid addressing the issue.

He said it was not just the opposition who demanded the her presence in Parliament but that a majority of backbenchers also felt likewise.

"This is about respect for the Dewan Rakyat. The PM's instruction is still effective, therefore it is Rafidah's responsibility to be present to answer related questions as the AP is a big issue," said Mohd Nazri.

He also noted "a conspicuous silence of disapproval from the backbenchers" when an opposition MP's emergency motion seeking to debate on the AP list was rejected earlier today.

"The deputy PM himself witnessed the Dewan Speaker's rejection of the urgent motion and how the backbenchers were silent.

"Usually, they will thump the table (to show support or approval). This implies that they also disagree with the (Speaker's) decision," he added.

He said Najib will report today's proceedings to Abdullah.

Standard reply

Yesterday, Rafidah's deputy Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah reiterated that no irregularities were involved in the issuance of APs to import foreign luxury cars. He said the policy will continue.

Describing Husni's reply "an expected answer", Backbenchers Club chairperson Shahrir Abdul Samad told malaysiakini that a lot of issues still remain unanswered.

"What is the policy? How do you designate that a car is a car? For example, a tuned-up model never appears in any respectable car magazine but in Malaysia they have become a new brand," he said when met at the lobby yesterday.

"These issues were not addressed. That's why a lot of issues have yet to be answered. All the issues have been raised and openly debated but the answers are not forthcoming.

"The Parliament is the best place (and time) to settle it," said the vocal MP for Johor Baru.

Shahrir said Rafidah could either arrange for a special briefing for MPs or provide the answers through the media.

However, he said that since the AP issue has been placed under the Prime Minister's office, the BBC will wait for a reply accordingly.

On Rafidah's continued absence in Parliament, he said all they wanted was an explanation regardless of who answers the queries.

Rafidah is currently on a trade mission to the United States.