David
SHEARER
Foreign Affairs Spokesperson
3 September 2014 MEDIA STATEMENT
What is McCully hiding?
The fact that the Ombudsman has launched an investigation into why Murray McCully has refused to release documents
relating to the Malaysian diplomat Muhammad Rizalman shows the double standards that exist around the releasing of
documents publicly, says Labour’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Shearer.
“That the Chief Ombudsman, Dame Beverley Wakem is stepping in shows the significance in which McCully’s actions are
being seen.
“The charges against the diplomat are serious, they involve a New Zealand woman and there is clear public interest in
the case both in terms of achieving justice and how this government handled it.
“Murray McCully simply does not want the full story to get out.
“Any hiding behind the ongoing investigation by John Whitehead into the matter should be seen for what it is deliberate
evasion.
“The Minister releasing documents now will not jeopardise that inquiry. Indeed, it was specifically set up to avoid
looking at why Minister McCully himself did not take the matter seriously and why his office did not take it up and ask
the right questions.”
“Information is slow to emerge from the National Government when it doesn’t suit them and the opposite when it does.”
says David Shearer.