Tourism minister refutes news report on rift with former sec-gen

Tourism, arts and culture minister Mohammadin Ketapi has denied a news portal's report claiming that he had a 'fallout' with the ministry's former secretary-general.

The report also claimed that the minister only held its first post-cabinet meeting this year after the latter was transferred out.

In a statement, Mohammadin (photo) said the report by The Malaysian Insight was a lie and slanderous in nature.

"The news report clearly accused me of never having chaired a post-cabinet meeting, when in fact I had done so several times.

"The report also clearly took information from sources that are accusing me of not having relayed information from cabinet meetings that were related to the ministry's management.

"To individuals who do not understand the need for post-cabinet meetings, they always thought that such meetings have to be held every time after a cabinet meeting to channel information on what had been discussed.

"It is on the contrary as (post-cabinet meetings) cannot just simply be held except when there is the need to brief government officials on what needs to be done," said Mohammadin.

This morning, The Malaysian Insight reported that they learnt Mohammadin was not able to work with Isham since the latter became the ministry's secretary-general in January this year.

The portal had relied on unnamed sources for the story.

"A ministry source said this had more to do with the poor working relationship between minister Mohammadin Ketapi and senior officials, despite speculation of a “deep state” within the civil service.

"Mohammadin did chair post-cabinet meetings last year but The Malaysian Insight learnt that he was not able to work with Isham Ishak, who was transferred to the ministry in January," claimed the report.

Post-cabinet meetings are a normal practice in the Malaysian federal government where ministers will bring back decisions from the cabinet to brief and discuss with officers at their respective ministries prior to implementation.

According to sources quoted in the news report, this, however, was not a must.

"There is no express provision that a ministry must hold a post-cabinet briefing (for its ministry officials) after the cabinet meeting," the source was quoted as saying.

According to Mohammadin's statement, he had conveyed every report concerning the ministry to its serving secretary-general, including Isham when the latter was still attached to the ministry.

"If a briefing involves top confidentiality level, the briefing is only given to the secretary-general and deputy secretary-general.

"Besides that, for reports related to agencies under the ministry, I have also informed them to the top management of the agencies respectively.

"Thus, I would like to urge the news portal to check their report and review the source of information given by their source," he said.