MACC to investigate letter seeking support of candidates for Zahid as PM

Kuala Lumpur, Nov 4— The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has opened investigation papers on a letter that went viral on social media, alleging that Umno candidates contesting in the 15th general election (GE15) had to pledge their commitment to support party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the prime minister’s post.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki, who confirmed the process, said MACC had received reports regarding the spread of the letter on social media.

He said the case would be investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009, for misuse of power.

“We opened investigations into the matter because it is an offence due to the misuse of power. There are claims that candidates for GE15 were forced to sign a letter to pledge their support for the Umno president to be the prime minister,” he told Bernama.

The letter featured the Umno party letterhead and contained the signatures of Zahid and Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan. 

Azam said MACC would be calling up the relevant parties to assist in the investigations.

Those to be called up would include Barisan Nasional communications director Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, whose name was stated in the letter.

Meanwhile, Shamsul’s political secretary Azizan Md Zain lodged a police report at the Dang Wangi police station today, urging the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the spread of the letter, which he claimed was fake.

The BN communications legal team also lodged a report at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission as the letter had gone viral on social media.

NMT as reported by Bernama