Latheefa to Khairy: Real issue is why was Dr M’s protection withdrawn

PETALING JAYA: PKR central committee member Latheefa Koya has accused Khairy Jamaluddin of “quibbling” about a photograph of Dr Mahathir Mohamad purportedly hugging his departing bodyguards, instead of addressing why the former prime minister’s official protection was withdrawn.

She said the youth and sports minister’s claim that the viral image was “fake news” was meant to divert attention from the concern at hand.

“This is a transparent and disgraceful attempt to distract from the real issue here,” she said in a statement today.

“The point that Khairy should be addressing is why the Barisan Nasional (BN) government has terminated the security services provided for a former prime minister of Malaysia.

“Is his safety and security of no importance to the government, simply because he is now an outspoken critic of the government?” she added.

On Nov 1, Mahathir, who is now PPBM chairman, had claimed in a Facebook posting that the police had withdrawn the personal bodyguard service provided by the Special Action Unit (UTK).

A photograph showing the 92-year old apparently in an emotional embrace with two men who were attributed as being the affected bodyguards started making rounds in social media soon after.

Yesterday, Khairy, who is Umno Youth chief reportedly said the photograph was misleading as it was actually taken last year and had nothing to do with the government’s move to end the UTK service.

He condemned the distribution of the image with the distorted caption as fake news.

Latheefa said there was no acceptable basis for the sudden move to take away official protection for a former prime minister, saying it was clearly tainted with bad faith.

“Khairy should not try to quibble with lesser issues as to whether the so-called photograph was an old photo or not, and instead answer why the government has chosen to remove the security protection accorded to all former prime ministers,” she said.

Last year Putrajaya ended the contract of Mahathir’s cook and office assistant, and his police outriders were also withdrawn after his privileges were revoked following his attendance at anti-government events.

The then inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar had said that Mahathir would have to apply for traffic police escorts that would be approved only if he was attending an official government function. -FMT