Zahid to The Edge: You printed them, you should know

KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pix) said that The Edge should know which articles they published were inaccurate.
When asked about The Edge's request to the Home Ministry to specify which of its articles about the controversial 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) led to them to receiving a show-cause letter from the Ministry, Ahmad Zahid said they should know.
"Siapa makan cili, dia terasa pedas (Whoever eat the chillies, they would feel the heat). They printed the articles, they should know. There is no need for us to specify," he retorted during a press conference after the Emergency Asean Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime Concerning Irregular Movement of Persons in Southeast Asia.
The Edge had confirmed receiving a show-cause letter in which the ministry had given them seven days to explain why action should not be taken under the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984.
The show cause letter was issued just over a week after Zahid had warned The Edge for misreporting on the 1MDB issue.
Meanwhile, Zahid said after the meeting with the Asean countries representatives, it was suggested and accepted whole heartedly that a "trust fund" should be set up and would be administered by Asean Secretariat for voluntary contributions from Asean Member States and members for the international community to support the humanitarian and relief efforts involved in dealing with challenges resulting from irregular movements of persons in Southeast Asia.
"Unofficially I have suggested for each member state to contribute USD$100,000 (RM377,430) and Singapore has agreed to contribute USD$200,000. I will speak with the Prime Minister and discuss how much can Malaysia contribute to the fund," he said.
Zahid added there has been no more boats ferrying Rohingya and Bangladeshi immigrants arriving.
Meanwhile Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has not been consulting the relevant government agencies prior to issuing the UN refugee cards to illegal immigrants in Malaysia.
Shahidan said all UNHCR refugee cards handed out in Malaysia must receive the approval of the Immigration Department under the Home Ministry and the Foreign Affairs Ministry first.
"This has to be reviewed immediately because anything that has to be done with regards to illegal immigrants should follow the procedures of both ministries," he told a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.
Shahidan said the National Security Council officers have been directed to "take action" so that no cards are given out without clearance from the government but refused to reveal what action would be taken.
However in an immediate response, a UNHCR spokesperson in KL denied Shahidan's claims.
"For over 20 years, UNHCR has been providing identity cards to refugees and asylum seekers with the full knowledge of the government of Malaysia.
"We are currently in discussions on how we can work more closely together to address the challenges presented by mixed migration movements to the region, including Malaysia" she said.