Stop harassing Rafizi, Anwar tells cops

 

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim says police investigations into his deputy, Rafizi Ramli, is meant to intimidate him.

PETALING JAYA: PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has urged Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani to “stop all harassment and pressure” on Rafizi Ramli.

The PKR deputy president was questioned by the police yesterday over his claims on the delayed littoral combat ship (LCS) project.

Rafizi’s mobile phone was also confiscated by the police, a move that opposition leader Anwar criticised as “quite excessive”.

“This move is clearly a form of intimidation against him (Rafizi) for his efforts in fighting corruption, just like what happened to the youths and university students who participated in Himpunan Turun last month,” Anwar said in a statement, referring to the organisers who were charged in court over a peaceful protest.

“The police should be fair in this matter by investigating Abdul Latiff Ahmad since a police report was made against him recently.”

“There should not be any double standards and investigations need to be done transparently without any pressure being imposed (on anyone).”

Rafizi is being investigated for claiming that a woman named Zainab Salleh, who is said to be Latiff’s second wife, was involved in the LCS scandal.

Latiff, a special functions minister, had repeatedly denied Rafizi’s claims and has challenged the latter to prove that he was married to Zainab.

The minister said Rafizi’s allegations were aimed at smearing his reputation, with his aide filing a police report against Rafizi over his claims on Aug 30.

Latiff was previously reported to have said that he played no part in the LCS contract in 2014, and denied claims that his family members had benefitted from defence contracts when he was in the defence ministry.

He served as deputy defence minister from 2009 to 2013, when Ahmad Zahid Hamidi led the ministry.

Rafizi is being investigated under Section 500 of the Penal Code for defamation and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998 for inappropriate use of network services. - FMT