Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon has apologized for denying his attendance at a durian party last Sunday (June 27) after he initially claimed that he wasn’t present at the said event.
In a statement issued today, Rashid, who is also Batu Pahat MP, said he didn’t watch the video in detail before denying the allegations when questioned by the media.
“I apologize for the confusion that arose when the media contacted me about the video. I didn’t watch the video for myself before answering.”
“It wasn’t until my meeting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong yesterday that I was able to see it firsthand,” he said.
Rashid added that he had recieved numerous complaints from durian farmers who had difficulty selling their crops since the first Movement Control Order (MCO).
“Upon a closer look, I realised that the video released online was about my visit to a durian farm that was run by the local community affected by FMCO.
1. Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Rashid Hasnon has denied flouting MCO rules, after a video went viral showing him eating durians with a group of people.
— BFM News (@NewsBFM) June 29, 2021
"Tak adalah, itu (video) lama kot. Saya ingat (video) tahun lepas punya, sebelum PKP," he told Malaysiakini. pic.twitter.com/0ifJKLovnf
“Coincidentally, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin was on a work visit to the same farm. Therefore, we decided to gift some durians to her team to take home,” he explained.
He also said that he was served durians by the farm’s operator while holding discussions regarding relief measures for those struggling during the lockdown.
“I apologise again for the error and I am ready to cooperate with the police on the matter.”
On Tuesday, Batu Pahat District Police Chief, ACP Ismail Dollah said an investigation paper has been opened following a report lodged over the viral video.
Sources: Astro Awani, Cover image via Twitter/ BFM News and The Star
Editor: Raymond Chen
Proofreader: Sarah Yeoh
