Azmin: Facing the one I once knew, loyalty has limits

Amidst a sex video implicating him, PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali tonight delivered a cryptic but defiant speech after a thanksgiving prayer session at the Selangor menteri besar's residence 

The sex video has also widened the rift between him and party president Anwar Ibrahim who had asked Azmin to resign if the video was proven true.

"I vow, whatever comes my way, I will rise up and fight even if I am alone, even if I face with the person whom I once knew.

"But loyalty has its limits. I am loyal to truth and justice," he said to more than a 1,000 supporters.

Azmin, who was previously the Selangor menteri besar, said he had not seen so many people at the Selangor menteri besar's residence before this.

Azmin, who is currently economic affairs minister, did not mention who he was referring to in his speech.

At one point, he noted that there were many "Anwar's men" at the gathering tonight.

"My only sin is not being someone who can be led by the nose. I am not someone that can be simply dragged about," he said.

However, when speaking to journalists later, Azmin struck a diplomatic tone, telling journalists not to "provoke" his relationship with Anwar.

Last month, a sex video was released to politicians and journalists in several parts by anonymous persons.

Subsequently, former Santubong PKR Youth chief Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz admitted that he is one of two men having sex in a video. He claimed his partner was Azmin.

Azmin has dismissed the video as slander and an attempt to destroy his political career. He also alluded that it was an inside job.

Police have arrested several individuals, including Haziq (above, waving) and an aide to Anwar, as part of an investigation over the circulation of obscene content.

Anwar had said the investigation should not only focus on the circulation of the video but also its authenticity.

Inspector-general of police Abdul Hamid Bador had said an analysis by Cybersecurity Malaysia found the video to be authentic but facial recognition software could not confirm the identity of the implicated minister.

Anwar subsequently welcomed the findings that "Azmin was not involved", prompting a reciprocal statement from Azmin via Twitter acknowledging Anwar's statement. - Mkini