The Malaysian Insight

NAJIB Razak has questioned the legality of the tapping of his phone and release of recordings of his conversations with top foreign leaders in 2016 by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

He said the audio clips may set a precedent for the tapping of sitting prime ministers’ phones, which would compromise national security.

On who might have done it, the former prime minister told the press after his SRC International Sdn Bhd trial: “This is what we want to find out, whether it is legal or illegal. If it’s illegal, they have to answer for it.

“There is a party, and I cannot disclose who they are, but they have to follow the rules. Whether they followed the rules in this case, we have to find out.”

When it was suggested that it may not be illegal to tap a sitting prime minister’s phone, the 66-year-old said: “It isn’t wrong to tap the phone of a prime minister? Perhaps in the near future, all prime ministers would have their phones tapped? Are you encouraging it?”

He said the release of such recordings had “never happened in this nation’s history”, up till today.

“I was a sitting prime minister, and it is a matter of whether anyone has the authority to carry out the wiretapping (of the phone) of any sitting prime minister, and not just myself.

“This would have an effect on diplomatic relations and Malaysia’s interests with other nations.

“Why release the clips at this time? This was something that happened (four) years ago. What is the motive? Does this have anything to do with the Kimanis by-election?

“This is the question that needs to be answered… The timing of the release looks really, really suspicious.”

The recordings, made public by MACC this morning, revealed individuals talking about the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal, and how Najib and his stepson, Riza Aziz, were affected after the US Justice Department launched money-laundering investigations in 2016.

The conversations, which took place between January and July 2016, showed how the parties conspired to cover up the case.

MACC chief Latheefa Koya said the clips were sent in by a source after New Year.

She said Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, may face fresh charges.

Najib and Rosmah currently face 42 and 20 charges, respectively, for abuse of power, money-laundering and corruption. – January 8, 2020.