Mahathir A/L Iskandar Kutty: Report Lodged Against Zahid, NRD Chief

(FMT) – Both have breached the law by sharing former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s private information, says Khairuddin Abu Hassan

A former Umno man has lodged a police report against Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the national registration department (NRD) head, for allegedly leaking Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s personal information.

The report lodged by former Batu Kawan Umno division vice-chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan last night, came after Zahid announced the details of Mahathir’s alleged identity card (IC), which bore the name “Mahathir anak lelaki (son of) Iskandar Kutty”, saying he had received an image of the former prime minister’s IC from NRD director-general Yazid Ramli.

“I made the police report at 10.46pm, at the Dang Wangi police station. Zahid and the NRD director-general had abused their powers (and breached) the Personal Data Protection Act,” Khairuddin said in a statement released shortly after he left the police station, attaching an image of the report he filed.

“The personal information of a Malaysian citizen shouldn’t be mocked or exposed to the public, especially in a political event.”

Khairuddin also labeled civil servants who “conspired with politicians” to misuse the information they are privy to, as “unethical”.

“This is a criminal act that was done intentionally, and shouldn’t be repeated as it will affect the public’s confidence in government institutions,” he said.

Khairuddin had earlier urged Mahathir to take legal action against Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, and the NRD director-general for leaking his personal information.

“There should be no compromise on the excessive behaviour of misusing the private information of someone else for a political agenda,” he had said.

The staunch Mahathir supporter also described Zahid’s stunt as being one of “cheap politics”.

“The Malay community will not accept Zahid’s cheap way of politicking. This shows that Zahid is politically bankrupt. He is now a desperado.”

Zahid, who is Umno’s acting deputy president, yesterday claimed the NRD director-general was the one who showed him the copy of Mahathir’s (IC).

Zahid had also, in his address at the Kelana Jaya Umno division meeting, said that “the man who struggled for the Malay agenda” was actually “using the Malays”.

Former information minister Zainuddin Maidin, speaking to FMT last night, condemned Zahid for acting “without class” when he hit below the belt by questioning Mahathir’s lineage, despite all the former prime minister’s contributions to the country.

Former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim expressed the same views, saying such action is unbecoming of a leader of the country.