Shafie Apdal denies paying large amount of money to artiste

As reported by The Star Online on Monday, 23rd April 2012.

KUALA LUMPUR: Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal on Monday, 23rd April 2012, issued a press statement regarding a police report lodged by a man alleging that the minister had paid a large amount of money to a local artiste.

“I have been following closely various reports in the media and blogs that have linked my name to a police report dated March 13, 2012, by a person named Noor Azman Azemi, who claims to be under my employ as a driver, linking me with the payment of a large amount of money to an artiste by the name of Zahida Mohamed Rafik.

“I wish to state that everything that has been mentioned in the police report is completely untrue and that the subsequent comments by individuals who have distributed copies of the police report is with bad intent and politically motivated.

“I am prepared to take legal action against anyone who continues to defame me and link me with this issue,” he said.



Meanwhile Zahida Rafik, who is accused of having an affair with a Cabinet minister, has threatened legal action against those implicating her.

She said on Twitter that she had already consulted her lawyers.

“I am not keeping quiet.

“My lawyers are in the midst of settling the matter. So let them handle it.

“Wait for the good news.” she said in response to a tweet asking why she was not responding to the allegations.

Online portals reported on Wednesday, 18th April 2012, that Zahida's driver, Noor Azman Azemi, had made a police report claiming that the actress received RM1.5mil from the minister over a span of four months.

PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin had highlighted the matter and distributed the police report to the media.

In the police report, the driver claimed that, among others, the actress received RM58,000 last October, RM112,000 in November, RM330,000 in December and RM510,000 in January.

The actress responded to other Twitter users who ridiculed and accused her of receiving the money.

One user asked asked: “Are you the minister's mistress?

“It is no wonder then that you live so glamorously.”

Zahida responded to almost every comment with statements like: “I have time to reply now while I wait at the bank for my millions” and “I feel sorry for my ex-driver, making up false stories just for money. May Allah bless him.”