No matter who it is, video mastermind must face action, says Tian Chua

PKR vice-president Tian Chua says Azmin Ali was a victim of an ill-intended act

PETALING JAYA: PKR vice-president Tian Chua has asked the police to haul up the mastermind behind the distribution of the gay sex video which was intended to bring down federal minister and PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali.

He said it was clear that Azmin was a victim of an ill-intended act and those who had orchestrated the distribution of the videos must face legal action.

“I don’t know who is involved, as only the inspector-general of police may know who the political leader is. The issue is, there was a conspirator and action should be taken no matter how high their position in the party is,” he said.

He reminded party members of PKR’s formative years in the late 90s when party president Anwar Ibrahim was also a victim of gutter politics.

“Thousands of people demonstrated against gutter politics then. We stood in support of Anwar. We cannot be going back to doing the same thing,” he said, adding that the party must stay loyal to its principles and reject gutter politics.

Earlier today, IGP Abdul Hamid Bador said that a leader of a political party was behind the gay sex clips which had implicated Azmin. He said experts had held that the video was “highly likely” to be authentic, but facial recognition results were negative.

What other PKR officials say

A PKR leader close to Anwar later questioned if the police had carried out their own investigations. “It looks like the police are basing their findings on the cybersecurity report, but what about their own investigations?” he said.

He wondered if the police had questioned “the minister who looks like the person in the video”, adding that the people deserved a comprehensive investigation.

Another PKR vice-president, Xavier Jayakumar, said party members should unite in the midst of the turmoil.

He called for a stop to the many statements made over the past few days, including those by people in leadership positions, to prevent further divisions in the party.

“Both Anwar and Azmin have contributed a lot to the party, which is why the party is now strong,” he said.

Azmin’s adviser, Khalid Jaafar, said those who lived in glass houses should not throw stones at others. “It looks like Anwar and his boys are trying to up the ante,” he said, adding that it started with PKR Hang Tuah Jaya MP Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin advising Azmin to go on leave.

Khalid said Anwar was “addicted” to becoming the prime minister but had made a “tactical blunder” as Azmin had told him to look in the mirror. - FMT