Home Minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail insisted that there was no application by Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim together with an Indonesian businessman to work on rare earth element (REE) activities in Kedah.
He who is also PKR Secretary General said that the businessman known as Reza Chalid was merely accompanying Anwar to face the Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah.
"Actually, he (Reza Chalid) went to Kedah to accompany Datuk Seri Anwar for a respectful visit to the Sultan of Kedah, that's all, after that he returned.
"I myself asked Anwar before the talk. I said Datuk Seri should answer a little.. Datuk Seri is sure that Datuk Seri has never met with Sanusi (Minister General, Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor), he said no, the meeting took place in the palace and even Sanusi didn't," he said when met after delivering a talk by Bakar Arang State Legislative Assembly group at Taman Delima here, tonight.
He said this to comment on Muhammad Sanusi's claim that Anwar and Reza had come to Kedah to inspect the REE mine site before the 15th General Election (GE15).
Saifuddin said Muhammad Sanusi's allegation was to distract the people but it failed.
He said the visit to the palace was only to cultivate Anwar and had nothing to do with REE.
"He needs evidence, like I have a document (evidence) that shows Muhammad Sanusi helped in terms of immigration documents, in that letter the names of So Lai Fat and Huang Zhiyi are written, I show the evidence, he (Sanusi) says he doesn't know, I show the picture.
"That means when we make a statement, it must be backed up with evidence. He came out with a statement without any evidence, so I think it was a desperate situation on his part to maintain the support (of the people) of PAS.
"That's why he feels that a transition has already taken place among his supporters when we share a lot of facts (evidence). He and I have been in politics for a long time and we understand each other's political battles and tactics. I see that he is very desperate to hold the support of PAS, especially for the voters on the fence that is being evaluated," he said.
Saifuddin said he will present new evidence about the theft of REE in Bukit Enggang, Sik at a press conference in Jitra, tomorrow.