PKR vice-president Azmin Ali (Gombak) accused former minister for international trade and industry (Miti) Rafidah Aziz (Umno-Kuala Kangsar) of giving Approved Permits (AP) to family members even after it was explicitly forbidden.

pkr pc 100408 azmin The committee set to deal with APs - chaired by Miti secretary-general Sidek Hassan - ruled against giving out franchise APs for 2005.

However APs were approved for Autostadt Asia Sdn Bhd - sole importers of Volkswagen to Malaysia.

"And the Autostadt shareholders are Zulkifli Ishak and his wife Annie Tajol Arus, who is the niece to the former minister of Miti," said Azmin.

He also alleged that the same company was also given franchise APs for Kleemann cars under the name of Emiritus Equities Sdn Bhd before the business came to a halt in 2006.

Azmin added that Autostadt failed to set-up showrooms as required by the permit.

"But until now, there is no showroom but only car-dealers," claimed Azmin.

He then shifted his focus to Amira Venture Sdn Bhd, a car company awarded with 150 APs in 2007 and 225 APs in 2008 - who also failed to have showrooms.

"And the company also has a family relation with the former minister," he added.

According to business newspaper The Edge Daily’s report in 2006, Autostadt’s Volkswagen business made-up for the loses in importing Kleeman tuned up Mercedes Benz cars via Emeritus Equities Sdn Bhd.

But their businesses ceases after the government decided to stop the APs for tuned-up cars effective that year.

umno supreme council special meeting 260809 rafidah Rafidah held the Miti portfolio between 1986 till early this year, and earned the moniker ‘Iron Lady’ for her strong and aggressive leadership of the minisrty. Towards the end of her tenure even former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad turned on her AP dealings, and asked for her removal from the ministry.

Presently there are much speculation on whether she could hold on to her Umno wanita chief post if challenged by her deputy Shahrizat Jalil. Rafidah is currently away in Hong Kong on holiday.

‘Why only 77 companies?’

Azmin also questioned the government awarding the 45,000 open APs to only 77 companies between 2004 and 2006, alleging they were only given to "certain individuals".

naza ria 040805 "Now the question is, why only 77? If the APs were given equally to these 77 companies, one company would receive 600 APs.

"If multiplied by RM50,000 for each AP sold, every company would receive a cashback of RM300 million without any risks," he added.

The problem he said with the problem was that it was not given out equally.

"For example, Naza Konsortium Sdn Bhd received 8481 open APs in three years. Multiply that by 50,000 and they would have received a cash profit of RM424 million without any risks," said Azmin.

He further suggested the government should review its policy in order to be transparent and fair when it comes to issuing open and franchise APs.

"I believe for the past years, there has been billion of ringgit obtained especially by these companies who are related to ministers. This should be stopped and replaced it with a new policy," stressed Azmin.