Spying on own PM

FMT:


MACC never sought my consent to tap phones, ex-AG tells Najib trial

Former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali

Bernama pic 

KUALA LUMPUR: Former attorney-general (AG) Mohamed Apandi Ali told the High Court in Najib Razak’s SRC International trial today that he was unaware of the nine audio recordings purportedly related to SRC International and 1MDB dealings.

Apandi, who was the AG from July 2015 to May 2018, also said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) never sought his approval as public prosecutor at the time to tap the mobile phones of Najib and several other former government officials.

“I have no knowledge of these audio recordings. I was asked to go to Bukit Aman to give a statement on this,” he said when questioned by Najib’s lawyer, Muhammad

Shafee Abdullah, about the MACC press conference on Jan 8 at which the anti-graft body disclosed the phone conversations.

Former MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya had released nine audio clips purportedly featuring Najib, his wife Rosmah Mansor, former deputy public prosecutor Dzulkifli Ahmad and crown prince of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohammed Zayed Al Nahyan.

The clips were also said to feature UAE president Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, IPIC chairman Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan and Mubadala Development Company CEO Khaldoon Al-Mubarak.

Najib’s stepson Riza Aziz, Najib’s former special officer Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin and Umno’s Khairul Azwan Harun were also named by MACC. The conversations allegedly took place between Jan 6, 2016 and July 29, 2016.

At that time Najib was STILL THE PM.

It's amazing, nay, terrifying, that the PM of Malaysia could be spied on, with audio recordings of his confidential or private conversations taped, without the knowledge of the nation's No 1 Law Officer.

Is Malaysia a lawless state?

Putting aside the current charges Najib are facing, and examining the issue clinically, I wonder who could be the culprit so daring as to spy on the nation's PM (who could well be Mahathir, AAB, Muhyiddin, etc).

Would the occurrence be an act by the so-called "Deep State" which has its own set of rules and laws?

Latheefa Koya must be made to answer for (what I consider as) her impetuous act of revealing audio tapes of unknown sources, which could also be illegally obtained. Even as MACC Chief, she seemed not to realise her questionable act and apparently lacked judgement in her eagerness to reveal the audio recordings.

It's the principle and not the personalities involved. The nation's PM (regardless of who he or she may be) should, indeed MUST never be spied upon as the act represents a national security risk.