Over 20 reports lodged on poison pen letter, says DPM

The police have received over 20 police reports over the poison pen letter purportedly written by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi urging for the prime minister's resignation.

This was revealed by Zahid, who is also the home minister. He said his signature on the letter was forged and that the author had abused a government letterhead, in addition to inviting slander against him.

"I don't want to be involved (in the investigation) but I have been informed that the police are conducting a thorough investigation together with the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to find the source (of the letter).

"I am sure whoever this is will face the legal consequences from the government," he told reporters at a press conference in Kajang today.

The letter dated Dec 9 had been circulating through social media and WhatsApp. It purports to be from Zahid and urges BN parliamentarians and senators to pressure Najib Abdul Razak to step down.

The letter also listed a replacement cabinet with Zahid as prime minister and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar as deputy prime minister.

However, Zahid said the letter did not list the posts according to the correct protocol.

Work of jealousy

Zahid added that the letter was the work of those who are "jealous" of his close relationship with Najib and sought to split the two leaders.

"They see my closeness with the prime minister. They know that our official and personal relationships have been ongoing since 1987 when Najib became the youth and sports minister and Umno youth chief.

"They know that if the two leaders can be split, then they would have achieved their goals because they are very jealous of the unity, thus they tried to pit the two leaders against each other," he said.

However, Zahid declined to speculate on who was the culprit, however, saying that he won't know until the police have investigated the matter.

Najib had expressed confidence in his deputy yesterday, and claimed that the letter was an opposition bid to spoil the relationship between him and Zahid.- Mkini