AN Umno leader is crying conspiracy over the leak of an audio clip recently, allegedly depicting PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim setting the tone for Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on how to conduct the recently concluded Umno annual general assembly (AGM).
“I thought the Emergency proclamation was to reduce politicking but it is only pouring fuel to the fire. Whether the audio clip is authentic or otherwise, the intention to make it viral is definitely politically motivated.
“Is this a conspiracy at the highest level? The audio clip is of high quality and it must have been done by professionals,” claimed Umno supreme council member Datuk Puad Zarkashi, in a Facebook post.
Yesterday, a four-minute audio clip went viral over social media. The clip was alleged to be a recording of conversation between Anwar and Zahid, both heard praising one another.
The clip also purportedly depicting Anwar as setting the tone for the Umno AGM, with Zahid relishing the former’s praises.
Both Anwar and Zahid had since dismissed the matter, saying they would lodge police reports over the matter.
“Clearly, the country’s leadership is worried and will use any dirty tricks to hold on to power,” Anwar was reported saying.
No-holds barred politics
On that note, Puad said that he found it disturbing that a personal phone call could be recorded and exposed to the public, without due consideration.
He reminisced the time when then Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) supremo Latheefa Koya exposed former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s audio conversation with a royalty from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the press.
“And we have not learnt our lesson until today. No investor from UAE has come here ever since and they poured RM130 bil in Indonesia.
“This work of tapping personal phone calls involving political adversaries is a stain to Malaysian democracy,” the former deputy minister said.
Puad said that the Government had escaped legal repercussions over the matter as the Parliament is suspended, disallowing MPs from raising the matter.
“Rest assured that this is not the end of gutter politics. The reason why we have ‘frog cluster’ and personal attacks is because our Government lacks legitimacy,” he remarked. – April 8, 2021.
