Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak) said he could not understand why Tony Pua, political secretary to Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, was issuing statements.

“He talks on economy, finance, projects and others. What are the powers of a political secretary for speaking on the MRT project… who is he?” he asked Senator Radzi Md Jidin, the deputy minister for economic affairs, in the Dewan Rakyat today.

When told by Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof that the question should be specific to the New Economic Policy and matters related to the Bumiputera economy, Tajuddin insisted that he was not straying from the topic.

“I am asking about the economy too. The political secretary has no right to speak about economy.”

Earlier, Awang Hashim (PAS-Pendang) asked Tony Pua (PH-Damansara) to clarify his statement that sale of government assets as indicated by Dr Mahathir Mohamad last week would not involve Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB).

Awang then asked Radzi to explain the matter as it was under his portfolio.

Radzi replied that MPs should not speculate on statements by Pua.

“It is a statement by YB Damansara, not the government. Now the government is waiting if there would be a sale of assets,” he said.

Pua has frequently issued statements rebutting opposition arguments over Pakatan Harapan’s handling of the economy.

He recently wrote an open letter explaining his boss’ decision to terminate MMC-Gamuda’s contract in the construction of the underground portion of the MRT2 project.