KUALA LUMPUR – Senior Security Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today filed a police report over an article he deemed to be slanderous.
In his Covid-19 daily briefing today, he said the report was filed by his officer on his behalf, but did not elaborate on what it was about.
He added that it was a personal matter that was not appropriate to be discussed during a press conference meant for the public to receive updates on the pandemic.
“I just want to say ‘yes, it is true’, a report has been made by one of my officers, because there was an article that I regard as slander.
“I was told it was intentional, meant against leaders from the current government, and I was one of those who were implicated.
“Although as a politician, matters like this are normal, slanders must not be allowed. So yes, a police report has been made, and I leave the rest to the police,” he said.
Although he did not specify which article he was referring to, it is believed to be over viral images of him and several other government leaders purportedly violating SOPs stipulated under the conditional movement control order.
Pictures of him with Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali and state speaker Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusof, among others, went viral yesterday, depicting them not adhering to the 1m gap ruling in a restaurant.
In an Instagram post yesterday, Ismail Sabri described the pictures as slanderous material against him and the other leaders during his working visit to Melaka last Saturday.
The minister said those who shared the post had mischievously took the pictures to make it look as though they were sitting very closely.
He added that current SOPs do not necessitate a one-metre gap in eateries, as long as there are chairs placed in between each individual. – The Vibes, December 2, 2020
