Did International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz 'dupe' her former boss into giving personal and public endorsement of the Naza Kia's Carnival model?

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad contended during a television interview yesterday that he had not known he was to launch the multi-purpose vehicle as a national car "until it was too late."

In a statement on the issue today, Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang said Parliament is entitled to "the fullest explanation from Rafidah " as to whether or not she had taken Mahathir "for a ride."

"Let Rafidah come to Parliament on Monday or Tuesday when Miti's (Ministry of International Trade and Industry) turn comes up for winding-up," said Lim.

According to a report in the Star today, Mahathir had on TV3's The Exchange program last night said a letter to him from Naza Kia Sdn Bhd had merely sought his advice on making the 2.5 cc model a national car.

Mahathir then said he had replied by saying he had no objections to advising the company on its plans, but clarified that it was not an approval.

When invited to launch the model on Aug 27 2003 however, Mahathir said he was surprised to find he was to endorse the Carnival (photo) as a national car.

"Of course, when I was asked to launch this car, I went there. I was a bit startled that this had become a national car, but it was too late for me to walk out," said Mahathir.

When he later quizzed Rafidah on the matter during a cabinet meeting, Mahathir claimed she said the Carnival's national car status had already been approved and that it was "difficult" to rescind the approval.

Advice only

Mahathir also produced a copy of a letter to Rafidah indicating approval was to Naza's request for his advice, not for national car status.

"The negotiation was done by the minister and then reported to the cabinet. The agreement accompanied the cabinet paper," said Mahathir according to another report on the interview by the New Straits Times .

"But in the cabinet paper, it was not pointed out that the 40 per cent content would be adequate to make a car a national car. This was not pointed out to the cabinet, and the cabinet approved it."

Earlier in the week, Mahathir said there should be no cover-up over who had given the approval for Naza cars to be accorded national status.

"On the approval of Naza cars as national cars, I think Miti knows very well that it had approved it and you know, the cover-up is wrong."

Insisting that Rafidah be in Parliament next week, Lim contended that "the minister cannot give the reason of her kneecap replacement surgery as

excuse to be absent from Parliament, as she was up-and-about two days

after the operation, giving long newspaper interviews, receiving a

visiting Japanese minister as well as attending to other official Miti business."

And in a note of sarcasm, Lim added: "Rafidah should give early notice whether she requires Parliament to arrange for her attendance in a wheelchair or whether her ministry can make its own wheelchair arrangement to send her to Parliament."