Minister of International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz and her deputy Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah were rapped for putting the blame on a ministry's officer for the 'mistake' in releasing the names of MPs who were granted Approved Permits (APs).

Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said in most countries, ministers and their deputies have to bear full responsibility for their ministry's affairs.

"But here, an officer of the ministry has to bear the responsibility. This goes to show that the minister, her deputies and parliamentary secretaries have been irresponsible," he said during his debate on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2005 in Parliament yesterday.

"How could you say this has nothing to do with me but the officer? How could we just let them go like that (by giving such an excuse)?" said the irritated Lim.

He pointed out that ministers "cannot just come here to read answers" without taking responsibility for what has been written.

Yesterday, Ahmad Husni said the list of MPs who have been granted APs was meant for the internal use of Miti (Ministry of International trade and Industry) and not to be made public.

He said the officer in charge of the matter has been transferred from the Trade Services Division of Miti last Monday.

MPs are angry

Last week, the list of MPs who were given APs was released in Parliament.

This has drawn flak from some MPs claiming that this was the tactic by the embattled Rafidah to show that she was right in handling the AP issues.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said the MPs were annoyed with Rafidah's continued absence in parliament to answer the AP-related issues.

Following this, Rafidah has been directed by the cabinet to come personally to explain to MPs.

During the debate, Lim also disputed a statement by Rafidah Aziz that she could not attend Parliament because of service for the nation.

He called for Rafidah's record of attendance in Parliament to be matched with her visits abroad.

"I knew the meeting in Vientiane ended yesterday. I found out that she had returned. Why did she not come straight to his honourable House?" asked Lim.

Prime Minister and Finance Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will table the 2006 budget in Parliament this afternoon.