KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 — If Datuk R. Ramanan were guilty of any crime, it would be that he was once a member of MIC — the ethnic Indian party in Barisan Nasional, according to Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar shook off the allegations of corruption dogging Ramanan ever since the PKR deputy information chief was named the PH candidate for Sungai Buloh.
"Any allegations must be substantiated with evidence and facts. All the candidates we check with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the commercial crime [unit of the police].
"Perception, what people say, that is different. Like people say, I'm Israeli agent; we cannot support Anwar because he is LGBT or an American agent. How many tens of agents lah, James Bond 007, agent of MI6, I'm American agent, Japan, India, China, all stupid," he said during an anti-corruption talk here this afternoon.
He was responding to a question from a member of the audience who wanted to know how he handles internal party issues since the corruption allegations surrounding Ramanan and because PKR had made itself known as a stout fighter of corruption.
Anwar also asked the unnamed questioner if the latter’s question wasn’t actually meant for Barisan Nasional's Sungai Buloh candidate Khairy Jamaluddin, or any of the other candidates vying for the Selangor parliamentary seat.
He stressed that PH had vetted all the candidates that it had picked before nominating them for GE15.
Anwar also indicated he is ready to cancel the nomination of candidates who are proven to have problems.
"So I scrutinise, although there are questions and we review. When it arises, I pay attention, see whether there is. Because he used to be MIC, that is the only so-called 'offence' but he is fighting against Umno," he said, referring to how the ex-MIC Ramanan is now contesting against former ally Umno in Sungai Buloh.
"There are many other issues questioned, ECM Libra, fourth floor, vaccine, during his ministerial time. No need, if there are allegations, respond to them. If there is evidence, facts, bring it, I will wait," he said.
"But I look at the evidence, I will cancel, because before I sign the watikah (candidate appointment letter), I have to with a clear conscience, because this will not affect PKR and PH's position. Because people ask, I wait. But finally there are people who whisper this and that, but no evidence, and I believe he will win in Sungai Buloh," he said.
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