Jailani: Arul Kanda paid for his travel to Sydney

Jailani: Arul Kanda paid for his travel to Sydney

Minister Jailani Johari, however, did not answer why a WSJ journalist was barred from a talk in Sydney to explain 1MDB’s affairs.

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KUALA LUMPUR:
1MDB President and Group Executive Director Arul Kanda Kandasamy attended a talk organised by the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) in Sydney on his own expense.

Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Jailani Johari said his ministry did not foot Arul Kanda’s travelling bill.

“Arul went there on his personal account. We only paid for his food and beverage,” said Jailani in reply to questions raised by Anthony Loke (DAP-Seremban) during the debate on Budget 2017 last night.

Jailini answered Loke’s question as to how much the government spent on Arul Kanda’s trip to Sydney on Tuesday, but did not answer Loke’s question as to why the event organiser had not allowed Wall Street Journal Sydney bureau deputy chief Rachel Pannett to attend the talk.

Her colleague, Tom Wright, had said only Malaysian students were allowed to ask questions.

“Arul Kanda is not brave enough and did not allow WSJ to enter the talk,” added Loke.

Arul Kanda had attended a public event organised by Jasa to explain the 1MDB controversy to Malaysian students there.

The event was part of Jasa’s Veracity Tour 2016, which was hosted by Kelab Umno in Sydney at the University of New South Wales.

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