BN's decision to engage British opinion influencing firm Cambridge Analytica (CA) is tantamount to "foreign interference," said two Pakatan Harapan MPs.
"This is the foreign interference which we need to eradicate. This is toxic politics," said Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar on Facebook today.
She was referring to a UK Channel 4 special report on the services offered by CA to help clients win elections across the globe.
CA global political managing director Mark Turnbull was depicted on video stating that they have operated in Malaysia, among other countries.
Its chief executive Alexander Nix is also caught on camera admitting that the firm engaged in entrapment strategies involving bribery, Israeli spies and Ukrainian honey traps.
On its website, CA said it had done work for BN in Kedah since 2008.
"CA supported BN in Kedah state with a targeted messaging campaign highlighting their school improvements since 2008.
"BN won Kedah back from Pakatan Rakyat in the 13th general election and walked away from a successful campaign. With wins in 21 out of 36 state seats and 10 out of the 15 parliamentary seats in the state, BN enjoyed a landslide victory," it said.
Opposition would have been crucified
Given the gravity of admissions by top CA officials, Kuala Terengganu MP Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah (photo) said the blowback on Harapan would have been tremendous had one of its components engaged the firm.
"This is definitely foreign interference. Had it one of Harapan's components been their client, we would have been crucified in public," he said.
Meanwhile, PKR communications head Fahmi Fadzil said authorities should investigate CA over allegations of illegal mining of personal data, in light of the revelations by Channel 4.
"At the same time, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, as BN chief, should come clean on the extent of CA and (sister company) SCL Malaysia's (alleged) involvement as BN consultants," he said. -Mkini
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