JOHOR BARU: A PKR lawmaker believes party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi are the victims of a conspiracy behind the viral leaked audio clip.

Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim said the two leaders were targeted regardless of the clip being real or fake.

“Victims of evil deeds by others can lodge police reports but the report itself, in terms of the law, must be done voluntarily and without being forced, ” he said on Monday (April 12).

On whether or not Ahmad Zahid and Anwar should defend themselves and prove that the audio clip was not a phone conversation between the two, Hassan said in terms of the law, the burden of proof does not lie with them.

“Anwar and Ahmad Zahid are the victims of a conspiracy by a third party, who should be the one to provide proof of the recording’s authenticity, ” he added.

Hassan said the one who had committed a crime and should be investigated was the person who carried out surveillance on the alleged conversation between Anwar and Ahmad Zahid.

“Who is that person? Is it an ordinary individual or (from) a government agency? What law allows certain quarters to spy on a phone conversation between two political party presidents?

“What happens if the audio clip is fake and deliberately designed? This is an act that is clearly criminal in nature. The police must investigate, ” he said.

He added that there were certain parties who had openly claimed the audio was authentic.

“They declared the authenticity of the audio clip as if they are audio experts," he said.

He also said that if the authorities wanted to carry out an investigation on the matter, then he, as an MP, would ask the government to reopen investigations into the 2019 viral sex clip involving two individuals at a hotel in Sabah.

“My demand is important, in accordance with Article 8 of the Federal Constitution, which guarantees the equal rights of every Malaysian citizen whether they are named Ahmad Zahid, Anwar, or the individuals in the video in the Sabah hotel, ” he said.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/04/12/cops-should-also-investigate-person-who-taped-alleged-anwar-zahid-conversation-says-pasir-gudang-mp