Dogged by controversy, the International Trade and Industry Ministry Rafidah Aziz's patience seems to be wearing thin.

Upon her arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport last night, she gave reporters the snub when quizzed on the matter.

The reporters had been waiting at the airport for more than two hours, hoping to get comments from her regarding the Approved Permit (AP) saga.

"Where was I? Was I holidaying? You know where I came from, right?" she was quoted as saying by Bernama when pressed on the matter.

She said everybody knew she was in the Laotian capital Vientiane to attend the Asean Economic Ministers meeting.

Prior to this, she had been on a trade mission to the United States.

According to another report, a peeved Rafidah also told reporters: 'Answer your own questions. Use your own sense'.

Cabinet's order

Her absence from the House since it commenced on Sept 19 had irked many parliamentarians, including Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang.

Yesterday, the cabinet decided that Rafidah should attend the Dewan Rakyat and explain the AP issue since last May.

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad had opened the can of worms when he claimed that the distribution of APs is hurting the national car Proton's market.

Mahathir, who is Proton's adviser, had also wondered aloud how certain individuals received thousands of permits.