International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah today defended the continued absence of his embattled minister, Rafidah Aziz, from the Dewan Rakyat sitting.

Rafidah, who was criticised for her absence in Parliament to answering questions on the Approved Permit (APs) issue is currently leading a trade mission to the United States.

"The trip has been arranged early, we couldn't simply change the trade visit, US is our largest trading partner, let us look at the global market," Husni told reporters at Parliament lobby.

He stressed that the minister felt the trip was important for the country's economy as Malaysia has relied heavily on foreign direct investment participation.

As an example, Husni said that in 2004, the country's total trade with the US was US$39 billion and the minister felt it was important for her to lead the trade mission to market Malaysia.

"Personally, I feel we have to see the type of work that she achieved. She is not avoiding reporters, she will definitely come to Parliament because we have our schedule," he explained.

Husni said Rafidah is expected to return this weekend.

Yesterday, Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) questioned why Rafidah, "continues to run from the press, then the cabinet and now Parliament,".

"How can this be allowed to happen. If this is the case, then it is better for her to resign," Lim was quoted by the media as saying yesterday after Rafidah was absent to answer a parliamentary question pertaining to Proton.

Investigation underway

Meanwhile, during the question-and-answer session earlier, Husni reiterated that there was no irregularities involved in the issuance of AP and the government will continue with the system.

"I would like to emphasise that the distribution of APs has not been abused. If there is any irregularities, the ministry will revoke their AP and take legal action," he told the Dewan Rakyat.

For instance, the deputy minister explained that the government took action after it found Amazing Tempo, importer of Wald tuned-up cars, guilty of breaching the AP conditions.

"Now we are investigation another company which also import tuned-up cars," he said but kept mum on the name of the company.

He also said the government has no plan to abolish the AP system as the current policy is to develop and promote the domestic automotive industry through progressive liberalisation.

He explained that since the AP system was introduced in 1978, 117 bumiputera companies were involved in the import and distribution of cars with investments valued at RM754.58 mil.

Meanwhile, a total of 506 bumiputera distributors were created and this had provided employment opportunities to 3,811 people.

However, when Husni said that there were no irregularities involved in the issuance of AP, murmurs could be heard from among the backbenchers and opposition MPs.

"How could you dismiss this is as a non-issue after it has been a scandal for three, four months? Are you suggesting that former prime minister (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) and Umno leaders who do not agree with Rafidah were also troublemakers?" asked Lim.

Responding on this, Husni stressed that the ministry upholds transparency and if there is any malpractice in the issuance of AP, "we can investigate, there is no problem".

New applications frozen

The deputy minister told a press conference later that new AP applications to import tuned-up cars have been frozen after the ministry revoked APs given to Amazing Tempo from importaing Wald cars.

"We will wait for the government's study on the national automobile policy. The study is in the final stage now which will include the future direction of AP, tuned-up cars and Proton."

Currently, there are 10 brands of tuned-up cars in the market but the deputy minister was uncertain on how many APs had been issued for those cars.

PAS vice-president Husam Musa has previously criticised the issuance of APs to tuned-up cars and said it involved at least 4,500 APs issued to seven types of tuned-up cars.