The Malaysian Insight

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim must impose a gag order on party leaders to stop open fighting over those allegedly involved in a sex video scandal, Sabah Wanita chief Rahimah Majid said today. 

“(He should) immediately impose a gag order to prevent leaders from further engaging in mudslinging in the open.

“If the ongoing mudslinging among leaders is not immediately curbed, it will further undermine the party’s integrity and ultimately, lead to its demise,” she said in a statement today.

Rahimah, however, also took the side of party vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin in demanding action against Santubong Youth chief Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz over his role in the scandal.

Haziq had, in a video posted on Facebook, confessed to being in the video and claimed to have had sexual encounters with a federal minister.

He named the minister as Mohamed Azmin Ali, who holds the economic affairs portfolio and is also PKR deputy president. Azmin has denied the claim and lodged a police report, as well as a qazaf (slander) report with the Islamic authorities through an aide.

“I fully support Zuraida’s statement as it is only appropriate that Haziq be sacked from the party after he admitted to the indecent act in the viral sex videos, which is also against the law.

“If the party fails to act swiftly and resolutely against such a disgusting act, it would inevitably send out the wrong message, as if the party is protecting Haziq despite having publicly and shamelessly admitted to such indecent acts.”

Haziq still holds his PKR post but had been issued a show-cause letter.

The party has not acted against Azmin either, who claimed those behind the video scandal were out to tarnish his image and destroy his career. Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has also said Azmin need not resign from his ministerial post.

The lack of action against Haziq has sparked a war of words between Azmin’s supporters, mainly Zuraida, and others in the party.

Zuraida has repeatedly called for Haziq’s sacking, prompting PKR women vice-chief Faezah Ariffin to call for disciplinary action against her.

Party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had also advised Zuraida to abide by the leadership’s decision not to act against Haziq, reminding her that she was present at the meeting in which this decision was made.

Rahimah, who is also a party Central Leadership Council member and its Kudat chief, criticised Faezah for launching a “personal attack” against Zuraida.

She said Zuraida should be allowed to express her views on Haziq’s status, even if the party had already decided on his case. – June 26, 2019.