PARLIAMENT | The statement by the finance minister's political secretary, Tony Pua, that the government will not sell off PNB assets is not Putrajaya's official stance on the matter, Deputy Economic Affairs Minister Mohd Radzi Mohd Jidin said today.

"I am aware of Damansara's (Pua) remarks but that is his personal statement and not the government's official stance.

"The government is currently looking at selling off assets if necessary... but there is no use speculating, based on what the finance minister's political secretary said...

“So wait for the government's statement," Mohd Radzi told the Dewan Rakyat today.

Last week, Pua said that PNB and Khazanah were reviewing and planning to offload "non-strategic assets" as part of the government's efforts to trim the national debt.

He corrected his statement yesterday, saying PNB assets would not be affected as the fund and investments belonged to unitholders and not to the government.

Mohd Radzi's remarks were in response to Awang Hashim (PAS-Pendang) who asked for the government's view on Pua's statement on the PNB assets.

Later, Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak) took a swipe at Pua saying political secretaries have no right to make statements on the economy and government affairs.

"What power does a political secretary have? Who is he? He has no right to make such statements," Tajuddin said.

Mohd Radzi declined to respond to Tajuddin.