KIMANIS – Sabah Umno head Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has called the “leaked” audio conversation, allegedly between the presidents of Umno and PKR, fake, saying that mimicry of someone else’s voice is possible now with technological advancement.
“There are many technologies that can recreate another person’s voice,” said the Kinabatangan MP and Sabah deputy chief minister.
“I am certain that Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi did not talk to PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“I believe the purportedly leaked audio is fake,” he told The Vibes on the sidelines of the Pan-Borneo Highway Package 4 launch here today.
Bung, who was accompanying federal Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof at the launch, said he knows that his president did not talk to the opposition leader on Umno’s plan to cut ties with Perikatan Nasional (PN).
He added that he was told Zahid will lodge a police report over the matter.
“I trust my president (not to do such a thing). I believe a police report will be made by Zahid on the matter,” he said.
Both Zahid and Anwar have denied having had the phone conversation with each other.
In refuting the matter, Zahid had called the whole episode an evil political ploy aimed at weakening and destroying Umno, while Anwar claimed he was used as a “conduit” by several parties, including Bersatu, to cause distress in Umno.
It is claimed that the clip, released over social media yesterday morning, is of the duo discussing matters over the phone following the Umno general assembly on March 28.
The audio depicted “Anwar” appearing to congratulate “Zahid”, saying he was proud of the latter over the speech he had given, to which “Zahid” intimated that it was Anwar who had taught him.
In the conversation, “Anwar” said it would be good if one of Umno’s ministers resigned from the PN cabinet, but noted that none had 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. – The Vibes, April 8, 2021
