KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 — More individuals will be called to give statements with regard to investigations into the recent release of nine audio recordings by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador today.
“We called Baling MP, Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, last night to give a statement,” he added, during a press conference after the launch of a corporate video for Bukit Aman’s Narcotic Crimes Investigation Department, held at the Royal Malaysian Police College in Cheras here.
On the authenticity of the voices in the recording, Abdul Hamid said his team needed more time to investigate and ascertain all the voices.
On January 8, the MACC released the audio recordings of conversations which allegedly comprise, among others, the leak of information from the Attorney-General’s Chambers to Datuk Seri Najib Razak during his tenure as prime minister. There are also conversations concerning investigations into sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and SRC International Sdn Bhd.
The recordings are believed to involve Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor; former MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad, a prominent foreigner and several other individuals too.
It is understood that police visited the MACC headquarters on January 16 to take a statement from current chief commissioner Latheefa Koya to assist with investigations into the recordings.
Meanwhile, Abdul Hamid called on the public to stop circulating false news on the threat of the 2019 novel coronavirus in the country, and instead to refer to the Ministry of Health for the latest development on the matter.
“There are too many ‘specialist doctors’ among us, with some so-called ‘half-cooked doctors’ also giving opinions based on unverified information and spreading it widely with advice that terrifies the people,” he said.
He also warned of stern action against any quarters spreading false news that could affect public order.
“The Chief of Defence Force (Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang) and I have attended a meeting with the Ministry of Health and we were given a briefing on this coronavirus...to help us make our preparations should the threat of the coronavirus reach a terrifying level,” he said.
In a joint statement yesterday, the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said they had identified four individuals to facilitate the investigations into the spread of false news on the novel coronavirus.
The statement also said based on the monitoring of the two authorities, social media and online messaging services have become the main platform for spreading the fake news about the coronavirus. — Bernama
