SHAH ALAM, July 21 — PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali had some strong words of retort for his detractors today, warning that his loyalty has its limit.
In a coded speech at a solidarity event organised for him at the Selangor Mentri Besar’s residence, the Economics Affair Minister said that he has always been a true friend and has never betrayed friends.
In his unplanned speech, Azmin said he will not sit still if there are leaders who do not stay true in the struggle for the betterment of the people.
“I had no intention to speak tonight, but when I saw the extraordinary turnout, which never happened in the mentri besar’s residence, regardless of whether it’s the current mentri besar or the previous one, where there was such a big turnout. This is the first time I’m seeing thousands.
“So tonight, I stand in front of my brethren and Malaysians. I vow, I promise. Whatever attacks are thrown at me, I will still rise to bring new politics to this nation.
“Let me face this alone, let me face the person or people whom I have known before, but our loyalty has its limits.
“I am loyal to the truth and justice, and I will always fight for justice and the truth. Not for my family, but I want Malaysians, the Muslims and the Malays to get the justice they deserve,” Azmin said to a packed hall.
He added that he has faced challenges since 1998, hinting at the start of the Reformasi movement in defence of then deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was sacked from government by then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and then subjected to police investigations.
“Though the peoples’ hopes and mine were for a culture like this to end last May 9, 2018, but unfortunately because of some people’s twisted lust and greed, they could bring themselves to stab and kill the political career of another. I won’t budge. Even if I’m stepped on, insulted and embarrassed for that long.
“God willing, with the prayers and support from Malaysians and my fellow Malaysian Muslims, I will continue standing tall to build a new Malaysia,” Azmin said, adding that his family too went through a tough time, after several sex videos targeting him made headlines.
He said that he had suspected that the sex video scandal was an “inside political ploy”, adding that he felt vindicated by Inspector-General of Police’ Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador’s statement supporting his assertion.
“And today it’s proven. The police have already found that I am not guilty and that I am not the person in the video. In fact, the IGP himself has confirmed that there are shadow hands valued at hundreds of thousands, and a millions of ringgit to topple me.
“Come on! I don’t have to be silent, because we don’t need someone like this to lead us,” Azmin said to cheers, stopping short of naming anyone.
“We can plan to topple someone. We can embarrass someone. We can insult someone. Remember, to those who are involved, you can plan, you have hundreds of thousands of ringgit, you have tycoons, but Allah’s plan supersedes that of a human who tries to topple,” he added.
Last Friday, Hamid said the sex videos were authentic but added that the facial recognition technology used was unable to verify the identities of the two men in them. He also did did not clear anyone but said investigations are ongoing.
The police chief also said an unnamed leader of a political party was behind the entire affair, and had spent thousands of ringgit on the video with the intention of defaming the PKR deputy president.
Anwar has vehemently denied allegations that he was the mastermind.
The PKR president on Saturday said that his party would not make any decisions against Azmin, pending ongoing investigations.
