NZ govt asked if Santhara had skipped quarantine queue
Deputy federal territories minister Edmund Santhara says the prime minister had approved his request for 55 days leave to travel to New Zealand to be with his family and sick wife.
PETALING JAYA: A New Zealand MP has urged his government to explain how deputy federal territories minister Edmund Santhara secured a place in the country’s highly limited managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) system, questioning whether he had been given special treatment.
According to New Zealand news portal Stuff, authorities have not been forthcoming regarding Santhara’s immigration status or how he secured a place in the MIQ system, citing privacy policies that bar them from disclosing details about individual applications.
However, Chris Bishop, the National Party’s Covid-19 response spokesman said this was not a suitable excuse, and that it was inconsistent with how the government had handled previous cases.
“I understand the privacy argument, but the government has been pretty forthcoming about how one of its own MPs, Ricardo Menéndez March, was able to come back to New Zealand,” Bishop said.
“Privacy doesn’t seem particularly important in that case and it shouldn’t be here either.”
He said that many New Zealanders had been trying to re-enter the country during the pandemic, including circumstances where family members were ill or dying, and deserved answers.
“The real questions are around how he (Santhara) got into MIQ. There’s a highly limited number of spaces and so people would be pretty concerned if there was special treatment given to him and the government now needs to be upfront about that,” he said.
It also remains unclear whether Santhara travelled using a personal or diplomatic passport, as diplomats are exempt from paying MIQ fees.
Authorities were unable to answer questions regarding MIQ wait times during the period in late October or early November when Santhara began his application process, and the Prime Minister’s Office and Covid-19 response minister have declined to answer questions.
The PPBM Segamat MP has come under fire after it was revealed he had obtained approval for 55 days leave to travel to New Zealand to be with his family and sick wife.
In a response on social media, he said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had approved his application for leave, and denied he had left during the movement control order period, stating he departed on Dec 23 and was quarantined until Jan 9.
According to New Zealand news portal Stuff, authorities have not been forthcoming regarding Santhara’s immigration status or how he secured a place in the MIQ system, citing privacy policies that bar them from disclosing details about individual applications.
However, Chris Bishop, the National Party’s Covid-19 response spokesman said this was not a suitable excuse, and that it was inconsistent with how the government had handled previous cases.
“I understand the privacy argument, but the government has been pretty forthcoming about how one of its own MPs, Ricardo Menéndez March, was able to come back to New Zealand,” Bishop said.
“Privacy doesn’t seem particularly important in that case and it shouldn’t be here either.”
He said that many New Zealanders had been trying to re-enter the country during the pandemic, including circumstances where family members were ill or dying, and deserved answers.
“The real questions are around how he (Santhara) got into MIQ. There’s a highly limited number of spaces and so people would be pretty concerned if there was special treatment given to him and the government now needs to be upfront about that,” he said.
It also remains unclear whether Santhara travelled using a personal or diplomatic passport, as diplomats are exempt from paying MIQ fees.
Authorities were unable to answer questions regarding MIQ wait times during the period in late October or early November when Santhara began his application process, and the Prime Minister’s Office and Covid-19 response minister have declined to answer questions.
The PPBM Segamat MP has come under fire after it was revealed he had obtained approval for 55 days leave to travel to New Zealand to be with his family and sick wife.
In a response on social media, he said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had approved his application for leave, and denied he had left during the movement control order period, stating he departed on Dec 23 and was quarantined until Jan 9.
Buying property overseas is not a crime in itself but I wonder if this RM10 million property in Auckland, allegedly owned by his wife (Santhara has to confirm), was declared to MACC as part of the requirement for senior politicians?
ReplyDeleteBut if so ayam sure it was bought at market price, no discount like Guanee's Pinhorn bungalow....ha ha ha......
I suppose Santhara's loyalty to Bersatu is now unshakable, even as an "associate member".
QUOTE
Government facing questions over Malaysian MP's trip to NZ to visit family
Simon Plumb and Edward Gay
Mar 04 2021
.....Stuff visited a home in Auckland’s Epsom, understood to be where Santhara’s stay was based – though it is not clear whether he remains in the country.
The home has a capital value of $3.35 million, according to Auckland Council and is listed as being owned by Carline D’Cruz. Stuff understands D’Cruz is his wife.
A woman at the address said: “We’re not interested in talking about it.”
In 2011, Santhara and D’Cruz attempted to buy a 10 hectare property at Lake Hayes in Queenstown for $3.8m.
Overseas Investment Office records show they wanted the property as a “lifestyle block” and had intended to move to New Zealand to bring up their children.
However, their circumstances changed and they no longer wanted to live in New Zealand. Their application to buy the property was turned down by the OIO.
UNQUOTE
however we may detest SAnthara, it's a fact he's rich way before joining PKR-then PPBM
DeleteYes rich but did he declare. Like did Jibby ever declare his billions in his bank account?
DeleteThese evangelical Cs are chronic troublemakers...
ReplyDeleteTravel approvals involving Ministers , Deputy Ministers , Senior Officials of friendly governments (I believe Malaysia /New Zealand falls into that category) , even for personal trips, usually get routed into special review territory, because of possible diplomatic repercussions.
ReplyDeleteSo it would not be totally untoward if Santhara's trip got treated as a Special Consideration case.
decline to answer? so unfortunate u all not ccp officer, no one even dare to ask them question.
ReplyDelete犬养mfer, u should try asking that same question to those Formosa dickheaded katak. Especially， seeking an answer from yr 蔡妹妹!
DeletePick&choose of the Formosa sophism -
"Kuman seberang laut nampak, Gajah depan mata tak nampak"
Tell that also to yr dangdut pals lah.