ALOR STAR: Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has criticised certain political-appointees in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and Foreign Ministry for their unprofessional conduct during the prime minister's recent visit to Sadao and Bukit Kayu Hitam.
The Kedah Menteri Besar said the interventions of these "Little Napoleans" had affected the running of the events which had involved the Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Monday.
He said while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should be praised for taking a proactive approach in resolving issues at the Malaysia-Thailand border, the same could not be said of certain officers.
"I was invited in my capacity as the Menteri Besar. The invitation was communicated by the diplomatic administrative officers at the PMO with officers in Menteri Besar Office (MBO), based on a standard procedures between Malaysia and foreign country, and between the federal government and the state government.
"Based on the communications via WhatsApp and exchange of documents between the PMO and MBO, I found it was done properly.
"However, things got messy when there were interventions by the political-appointee officers," he told the state assembly here today.
Sanusi said when he arrived at Raia Hotel here to attend a pre-council meeting prior to the bilateral talk with the Thailand delegation, he was made to stand as he was not provided a chair to sit for the discussion.
"I just stood for the meeting but I must thank the prime minister for instructing to provide me with a chair.
"I did not feel insulted at all, but I wish to point out about the games played by these little Napoleons who are out to create disharmony among the leaders."
Sanusi said he is baffled as to why the 'little Napoleons' tried to prevent him from attending the pre-council meeting while the key issue in the border checkpoints project is matters pertaining to land, which is under the state government's jurisdiction.
"Once I sat in the meeting and was given a space to speak up, then I learnt all the hurdles currently faced by the Public Works Department, Transport Ministry and the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (for the border checkpoint project).
"All the issues should have been brought up to the Menteri Besar to be resolved, but I was not given a space (consulted earlier)," he said.
Sanusi said the second incident occurred when he was not provided a seat during the delegation luncheon hosted by Thai Prime Minister in Sadao.
"However, I did not mention anything on the matter until this was played up on social media platforms to paint a picture that I am that dumb, and that I just followed people to wherever I was dragged to. It was an insult and I feel insulted."
Sanusi claimed the same officers were behind the plot to provoke him to continue finding faults with Anwar.
"I know well that this is a game by the officers concerned to provoke me to continue attacking the prime minister, but I will not dance to their tune because in my opinion, he has done his part as a prime minister.
"It is the officers (political-appointees) who managed the delegation who were out to play politics," said Sanusi.
He said despite the slander, he pledged to help Anwar in the latter's capacity as the prime minister in completing the project.
"We are still committed and will do our level best to make sure the project is completed as soon as possible because the Thai government set a target to complete the road construction on their side by next year."
However, Sanusi admitted that the two-week timeframe set by Anwar for all impending issues to be resolved would be challenging, since land matters fall under the National Land Code.
"There are some land involved in the project site: land belonging to the Kedah Development Corporation (PKNK) that is leased to Cergas Jaya, land belonging to Cergas Jaya; and land belonging to the Veterinary Services Department. All these need to be handled based on their respective regulations under the state government's jurisdiction.
"Nevertheless, I give my assurance we will work as quickly as possible based on existing laws so that we will fulfil the prime minister's wish. He is the face of our country, we must not allow him to look bad," he said.
On Monday, Anwar has announced that Malaysia and Thailand have agreed to resolve pending issues at the border checkpoints in Sadao and Bukit Kayu Hitam in the next two weeks.
He had said the matter was agreed upon during a bilateral meeting with his counterpart in Sadao, adding that both countries have agreed to set the time frame in order to resolve the pending issues in order to improve the traffic flow at the border checkpoints.
