Khairy reiterates stand fully responsible over RM100 million scandal

Khairy said he took full responsibility to correct all weaknesses in the financial procedures of his ministry to prevent such a scam from repeating.

"When I said I will take full responsibility, I must be fully responsible to correct the situation first.

"At the same time, if it is true I was involved, it would be found in the investigations by MACC and the independent task force and subsequently my position can be determined," he said when winding up debate on the motion of thanks for the Royal address in the Dewan Rakyat Wednesday.

He was replying to an interjection by Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (DAP-Beruas) who questioned why Khairy had not resigned after stating his stand to take full responsibility on the fraud issue.

Ngeh said there were parties who expected the younger generation minister to follow the footsteps of ministers in developed countries such as Japan to take full responsibility by resigning when an officer under him was involved in a financial scandal.

The press had earlier reported Khairy as taking full responsibility on the corruption case in his ministry and would cooperate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate the officer concerned and any other officers involved in the scam.

Meanwhile, commenting on his position as a Cabinet minister, he said: "It is up to the prime minister to decide on my position."

He said the ministry had identified loopholes and to put a stop to the process and procedures that led to the problem.

"I can't protect anybody whether they are present or previous members of the ministry, even myself. So, anybody who needs to be questioned by MACC will be questioned by MACC," he said.

Last Friday, MACC detained a division secretary of his ministry after being suspected of masterminding a syndicate to embezzle RM107 million in government funds.