Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said today he has apologised to Sabah undergraduate Veveonah Mosibin and her parents on behalf of the government over his colleagues’ remarks last week.
The Rembau MP took to Twitter to announce his meeting with Veveonah at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, where the latter is studying.
“Managed to meet Veveonah at UMS. I have apologised to her and her parents on behalf of the government. I have also suggested that she work with the Malaysia Innovation Foundation to develop innovation projects at her village in environmental conservation,” he wrote.
Khairy also attached two pictures of both of them in the accompanying Twitter post.
Khairy’s apology comes after Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin also formally apologised to the Dewan Negara for confusing the Senate with his statement in the Upper House last week on Veveonah.
“I would like to apologise to the House for causing confusion over the matter involving Veveonah.
“I am sorry that the information given by the (Kudat) member of parliament (Abdul Rahim Bakri) has caused unease among some quarters.
“Perhaps my views were misinterpreted,” he told the Dewan Negara today.
Earlier, Dewan Negara Speaker Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim made a ruling for Zahidi to explain his statement on Veveonah to the House and to issue an apology to the relevant party.
Rais said should Zahidi fail to do so, the latter will be referred to the Parliament’s Rights and Privileges Committee.
The ruling was made following a motion moved by Pakatan Harapan’s Senator Alan Ling Sie Kiong today.
Zahidi said the concerns aired by Veveonah on the lack of internet coverage in the area was a noble effort. He subsequently pledged to resolve connection issues there.
“I take full responsibility and the government has agreed that this issue is about poor internet coverage in rural areas in Sabah and therefore the matter should be given proper attention so that it can be resolved.
“What Veveonah did in showing that there is poor internet coverage in rural areas is a commendable struggle that should be praised.
“However, as a father, I think that sitting on top of a tree at night just to get internet coverage is a dangerous act,” he said.
In response to Zahidi’s apology, Ling expressed hope that such a situation will not recur and that rural areas in Sabah and Sarawak will be able to get sufficient internet connection soon.
“I have nothing personal against the deputy minister. We just want to maintain the good name of this House,” Ling said.
Rais also responded by saying that Zahidi will not be referred to the Rights and Privileges Committee since the latter had adhered to his instruction to apologise to the Senate today.
“Seeing the deputy minister’s determination to appear (in the House) in resolving the issue, I, therefore, decide that what the deputy minister had said just now was made spontaneously and with sincerity and so his (apology) should be accepted by this House.”