KUALA LUMPUR – The Communications and Multimedia Ministry will launch a probe into a clip of a phone conversation purportedly between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and former Melaka chief minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron, said Deputy Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin today.
During a press conference at Umno headquarters Menara Dato Onn, he expressed disappointment over the leak of the clip by irresponsible parties out to tarnish the reputation of the politicians in the recording.
“Supreme Council members are disappointed by the action of these irresponsible people who like to record phone conversations, which are supposed to be a private matter.
“We need to investigate this so that it does not repeat in the future.
Similar incidents have happened to Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Datuk Seri Anwar (Ibrahim) and Datuk Seri (Ahmad) Zahid (Hamidi), and now, it’s the prime minister himself. This is truly embarrassing.”
The Padang Besar MP said the ministry will also investigate telecommunications companies to determine whether they are involved in recording customers’ conversations.
However, he said, there is no need for a police report to be lodged over the issue as “it will complicate matters”.
“This has become a trend, and it is not good as it is an invasion of privacy. My ministry is responsible for this matter.
It is impossible that the prime minister was the one who recorded the conversation. This is the doing of others, and they are using this as a political campaign as the election looms.”
The Supreme Council member called on the people not to participate in such activities and make them commonplace.
On Monday, the leaked recording was sent anonymously by an individual with the email address [email protected] to the media, ostensibly to shed light on the events that led to the collapse of the Melaka government recently.
In the eight-minute clip, a voice resembling Idris’ is heard telling Ismail Sabri why he withdrew support for now caretaker chief minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali, and that Umno will not receive widespread backing in Melaka in the upcoming vote due to a “lack of leadership” and policies that favour only Malays.
He purportedly said Sulaiman is “subservient” to Melaka Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh. – The Vibes, October 14, 2021
Additional reporting by Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain
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