The Malaysian Insight

THE deputy primary industries minister has defended his decision to appoint Haziq Abdul Aziz as his principal private secretary despite the latter’s past links to Barisan Nasional.

Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said he was aware of Haziq’s activism as a student at Universiti Malaya and that he participated in an internship programme as a Perdana fellow under BN minister Nancy Shukri.

Haziq has been suspended by the Primary Industries Ministry from his post as Shamsul’s aide after he “confessed” to having had sex with Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali.

Shamsul said Haziq had undergone the job interview for the aide’s post as per the proper procedure.

“I was made to understand that he was never a BN member. He was just a Perdana fellow intern, and did his internship under a former minister (Nancy).

“I think the programme is definitely a place that gives young people like him the opportunity to nurture their talents. There is no problem here,” he told a press conference today, during which he announced Haziq’s suspension.

Shamsul, who is also PKR information chief, described Haziq as being committed to his work.

“We don’t have problems with his work. We don’t even hear complaints from the ministry secretary-general. He is a professional.”

Haziq, who is also Santubong PKR Youth chief, joined the BN political internship programme in 2017.

PKR sources in Sarawak said he participated in Nancy’s election campaign in Batang Sadong in the 14th general election last year.

Photos of Haziq with Nancy have made the rounds on social media after the sex scandal allegedly involving him and Azmin broke on Tuesday.

The Malaysian Insight understands that Haziq joined PKR after GE14 and was among the new members who received special dispensation from the president to contest in party polls last year.

Apart from the suspension, he has been served a show-cause letter over his alleged confession to being in clips of two men having sex, which have gone viral, and naming the other individual as Azmin.

Haziq, who has been with the Primary Industries Ministry since January, will be sacked should he fail to reply to the show-cause letter.

Azmin, who is also PKR deputy president, today said he only knew Haziq “from afar”, and pointed to the latter’s past allegiance to BN.

“He was a party member, and then he joined the opposition (BN). After we won (GE14), he jumped back into PKR.

“This is the character of an individual who is used to slandering others,” he told reporters after an event in Shah Alam.

He was asked if he knew Haziq, who claimed to have had multiple sexual encounters with Azmin.

Azmin yesterday denied being in the gay sex clips that started circulating on Tuesday, and called the allegation by Haziq a “nefarious plot” to destroy his political career. – June 13, 2019.