GEORGE TOWN – Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau claims his Twitter account was hacked after facing heat from social media users over a post about contesting the Pulai seat following the death of its incumbent Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub.
Screenshots captured and circulated by netizens show Lau’s Twitter handle posting at 12.37pm today asking: “Is it OK if I contest for the Pulai by-election?”
The timing of the now-deleted post was while prayers for Salahuddin’s burial in his hometown of Pontian, Johor, were ongoing.
Salahuddin, who had served as domestic trade and costs of living minister and Amanah deputy president died last night at Sultan ah Bahiya Hospital in Alor Star, Kedah, after emergency surgery on Friday for a brain haemorrhage.
Salahuddin’s untimely death received a huge outpouring of grief from both sides of the political divide due to his warm and humble demeanour as a politician.
Lau, who is hoping to steer Gerakan back to mainstream politics, was criticised for his tweet.
He said the hacking of his account is now being investigated.
“The admin is currently investigating the cause of this incident. As an immediate security measure, the latest security protocols have been activated, including changing the passwords for all official social media accounts,” he said in a statement.
He added that a police report would be lodged over the alleged hacking.
Gerakan, which had quit Barisan Nasional after the 2018 general election, joined Perikatan Nasional, which took federal power after ousting the Pakatan Harapan government in 2020. Lau was appointed a senator in November 2021. – The Vibes, July 24, 2023
