Party database privy to only a few

KUALA LUMPUR: The PKR disciplinary board must find out who leaked the database containing the phone numbers of party officers to enable the circulation of the viral sex video clips which he claims are used to slander him, says Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

The Economic Affairs Minister and PKR deputy president claimed that the clips implicating him were first spread using the WhatsApp messaging app in groups created by the sender who had access to the party database, which is privy only to very few in the party.

“I was told the circulation is no longer on Facebook and Instagram because they want to avoid the identification of IP address and they circulate in WhatsApp groups. That is the report given to me.

“These WhatsApp groups contain all the contact numbers of the heads of the divisions and the lower rank of the office bearers at the branch level.

“I don’t have access to this information. The question is who provided this information to create these WhatsApp groups.

“There are groups for Sabah, Sarawak and the peninsula,” said Azmin.

He said action should be taken against the one who had access to the database and leaked the numbers.

He was referring to the recent viral clips of a sex video featuring two men, with one resembling Azmin, which were circulated among party leaders and selected media personnel.

Santubong PKR Youth chief Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz later posted a confession on video stating that it was indeed him and Azmin at a hotel in Sandakan, Sabah, during the by-election on May 10, an allegation which the latter had denied as a “nefarious plot” to kill his political career.

Haziq was arrested at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on June 14, as he was about to take a flight to Manila. He was released the next day and several PKR members were seen with him upon his release on Saturday.

Azmin also said that party leaders should take note of the PKR members who were seen with Haziq when he was released.

“This is alarming. The leadership must take a bold step and investigate,” he said after a Hari Raya event in Gombak Setia yesterday.

“The party should be cleaned up. The disciplinary board must decide what is best for the party.

“If we want to ensure the party is relevant and acceptable to the public, something needs to be done,” said Azmin.

In response, PKR disciplinary board chief Datuk Ahmad Kassim said the disciplinary board had met over the issue of whether there should be an investigation on who leaked the numbers from the party database.

“We met over this. There is no need for a report to be lodged to us before we decide to investigate. We have yet to decide on the proper procedure for a case such as this, as I am also new,” said Ahmad, who is also the speaker of Kedah state assembly.

The disciplinary board’s primary role is to ensure members of the party abide by the constitution and do not smear the party’s image in any way.- Star