The Natural Resources and Environment Minister said that he and a few other ministers had danced along with the Attorney-General (AG) because they were “spellbound” by the music.
“There were two or three ministers, including myself, who responded to the music,” Wan Junaidi said when contacted by FMT.
“The music was beautiful and ‘feel good’. So people responded to the music. That’s all it was. Nothing more to it.”
Previously, Hanif Khatri, the lawyer for former premier Mahathir Mohamad, had uploaded a video of an individual believed to be the AG dancing with the ministers.
Hanif had said that it was not right for the AG to be dancing with ministers in public and urged Apandi to resign from his post should he be unable to explain himself.
However, Wan Junaidi dismissed Hanif’s call, saying that what Apandi did was not wrong.
“This has nothing to do with ethics or the law. Everybody there was taken in by the music. Everybody, including myself.
“I don’t see what’s the matter. To me, whoever is questioning the matter and making an issue out of it is being extremely inappropriate,” he said.
Wan Junaidi explained that the incident happened when the Yang diPertuan Agong, Prime Minister, and the Deputy Prime Minister were leaving the ceremony.
“We were waiting for our cars, and our cars were stuck in traffic because of all the VIPs going home.
“Then the music’s intensity was increased so that we would know that even if the VIPs have gone home, the event is still not over,” Wan Junaidi said.
However, Wan Junaidi could not say if the AG had indeed danced with the ministers.
“I did not see anyone, but I know that four or five ministers responded to the music. I know that because I was dancing to it myself,” Wan Junaidi said.
Hanif had on his Facebook page uploaded a 26-second video showing somebody looking like Apandi dancing together with Salleh Said Keruak, Azalina Othman Said and Nancy Shukri.
Hanif said that he was worried the action would affect Apandi’s ability to make fair and just decisions in his investigations against the Prime Minister or any other member of the Cabinet.
He added that it was important that Apandi conduct himself professionally considering that the government and Prime Minister are currently involved in the controversy surrounding 1MDB.
Former Batu Kawan Umno division vice-chairman Khairuddin Abu Hassan had also said that Apandi should not have displayed his close ties to politicians, ministers or the public.
“Ethically, what he did was not right as it has destroyed the public’s confidence and faith in his ability to uphold the integrity of his position.
“Even if he makes a correct decision (in a case involving a Cabinet member), the rakyat will say he is showing favouritism or is being biased,” Khairuddin said.
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