KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 — Negeri Sembilan Gerakan chief Gary Lee Ban Fat has stepped forward to vouch for Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu who was accused of sexually harassing a woman verbally in Sri Hartamas here last month.

Lee, who is Negeri Sembilan Perikatan Nasional (PN) deputy chairman, said he met the state coalition chairman Faizal Azumu at the Hotel Royal Chulan in Seremban on the day the alleged incident supposedly took place, Sinar Harian reported today.

The Gerakan politician said he had arrived at the hotel and met with Faizal Azumu's officer Ab Rahim and another officer called Maran.

"At around 10.30am, I went up to the room to hold a discussion about the preparations for the Negeri Sembilan elections,” he was quoted as saying.

He added that discussions with Ahmad Faizal ended at 11.30am.

"I confirm I was with Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu at that hotel during the time stated by the woman,” Lee was quoted as saying.

An unnamed woman was reported to have filed a police complaint accusing Ahmad Faizal of making inappropriate remarks at Plaza Damas in Taman Sri Hartamas, around 11am on July 24 Kuala Lumpur, only to withdraw it later that day.

On August 3, Brickfields district police chief Amihizam Abdul Shukor said an inquiry paper had been opened.

On the same day, Ahmad Faizal said he had lodged a police report to deny the accusations made against him as being untrue, and described the woman's police report which went viral via Telegram channel "Edisi Siasat” as being criminally defamatory.

Ahmad Faizal said he had notified the police that he was in Negeri Sembilan at the time of the alleged incident here.

He said he was carrying out his official duties as the Bersatu deputy president and added that there were many witnesses who could confirm his presence in Negeri Sembilan instead of in KL as alleged.

Ahmad Faizal lodged a second police report yesterday over the woman's retraction of her police complaint.

He urged the police to investigate the retraction and if there are any elements of defamation.

He added that he is reserving his right to take legal action against the woman and Edisi Siasat after the police complete their investigations.