KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been summoned to Bukit Aman over investigations into his alleged telephone conversation with Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
A source told The Vibes that Anwar has been asked to attend questioning at the police headquarters at 10am today.
The source said he will be accompanied by his lawyer Datuk Sankara N. Nair.
The investigation comes after an audio clip of Anwar and Zahid – both top leaders of opposing parties – went viral on April 7.
In the clip, “Zahid” and “Anwar” exchanged pleasantries, with the latter saying it was his first time following the Umno assembly in full in the last 22 years, and describing the former’s speech as good.
The opposition leader also seemed to congratulate “Zahid”, saying he was proud of the latter over the speech given, to which “Zahid” said it was Anwar who taught him.
In the conversation, “Anwar” said it would be good if one of Umno’s ministers resigned from the Perikatan Nasional cabinet, but noted that none have the courage to do so. “Zahid” replied by calling Umno ministers “cowards”.
The two are known to be old friends, going back to the late 1990s when Anwar was Umno deputy president and Zahid, the party’s youth chief.
When contacted, Anwar confirmed that he has been summoned.
“I will be going with my lawyer and will cooperate with the police,” he said.
Anwar, however, said he hopes the authorities will be just as enthusiastic in investigating another audio recording released recently, which purportedly features Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin offering positions to Umno leaders for their support and loyalty.
Three days after the clip emerged, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador said a probe had been launched and that the two politicians would be called in to have their statements recorded.
The IGP also said the audio recording has been sent to a forensic laboratory for authentication. – The Vibes, April 27, 2021
