“It is just an allegation, I also can make any allegation. I have joined many ‘ibadah korban’ at many places in Thailand every year, making personal trips.
“This time around, I was accompanied by armed forces staff,” he said today at a press conference.
He was asked to comment on a report that he had participated in a “ibadah korban” at a Shia headquarters in southern Thailand.
Meanwhile, commenting on the three armed forces personnel allegedly serving former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Mohamad said the trio were now back on duty with the armed forces, but remained under investigation.
Rahim Noor is the right person
On another matter, he defended the appointment of former inspector-general of police Abdul Rahim Mohd Noor as the new facilitator for peace talks in southern Thailand, saying Rahim was the right man based on his ability and experience.
Mohamad said Rahim had been assigned by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad during his first stint to hold discussions with the communists in Hatyai in 1989 and that he had managed to strike a peaceful agreement then.
“He has experience in negotiations and knowledge of Thai territory. That’s why he has been given the role now.”
Rahim’s appointment has drawn mixed reactions, with MP Nurul Izzah Anwar criticising it.
Rahim, as inspector-general of police in 1998, had assaulted Nurul Izzah’s father and PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim after the later was arrested over several charges.
Putrajaya has been helping bring peace to southern Thailand and has hosted several rounds of talks between Thailand’s peace negotiating panel and Majlis Syura Patani which represents several militant groups in the deep south.