Anwar quizzed on double standards after PKR accused of lobbying US against Najib
Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain & Zarrah Morden
Published: Mar 3, 2026 1:09 PM
Updated: 5:31 PM
PARLIAMENT | Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was quizzed about alleged double standards when it comes to lobbying foreign powers, after allegations surfaced that PKR was in communications with a US firm to exert pressure on then-premier Najib Abdul Razak a decade ago.
The matter was raised in the Dewan Rakyat today by opposition lawmaker Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau), who pressed Anwar to address the difference between PKR’s alleged actions then and efforts by former finance minister Daim Zainuddin’s family.
“What PKR did at that time was not wrong, but someone trying to defend their family is? I just want to ask, there is no need for a long explanation. Just a clarification - wrong or not, that’s all,” the PAS MP questioned.
However, in his response, Anwar instead urged Shahidan to properly examine a report on an alleged “communications plan” linked to Daim’s family, who have been accused of partaking in a purported plot to topple the government.
“This is not about Daim personally… this is not merely about lobbying for freedom. This questions the nation’s entire system and challenges the government’s position,” Anwar said during the Prime Minister's Question Time.
“This is not merely a case to defend one individual. Yes, it seeks to elevate that individual’s position, but what is presented in the report questions the entire system in this country, and there is a plan to bring down the government as the (alleged plan’s) timeline ran from August to the next election.
“Let us not be naive or ignore the fact that when it comes to national interest - yes, I accept criticisms of me…but, this is not about criticising the prime minister. This is an effort to sabotage the government and the country,” he added.
Arau MP Shahidan Kassim
Alleged collaboration
Yesterday, MalaysiaNow reported that email correspondence dating back to 2016 involving senior PKR leaders depicted the party’s alleged collaboration with foreign parties, including a Washington-based law firm and political consultancy.
The collaboration is said to have been aimed at not only clearing Anwar’s name as he served his prison sentence for sodomy but also finding ways to persuade the White House to build political pressure against Najib’s government, which was then plagued by the 1MDB global financial scandal.
While the report named Anwar’s daughter, Nurul Izzah, and PKR legal bureau chief Sivarasa Rasiah as those who had received emails from a lawyer linked to the US entity, MalaysiaNow did not disclose if the party leaders had responded to such communications.
Malaysiakini has contacted both PKR leaders for their comments on the matter and is awaiting a response.
The MalaysiaNow report came on the heels of a leaked 13-page document understood to be a “communications plan” prepared in August last year, allegedly as part of Daim’s family’s efforts to preserve his reputation amid legal action by the MACC.
Yesterday, MalaysiaNow reported that email correspondence dating back to 2016 involving senior PKR leaders depicted the party’s alleged collaboration with foreign parties, including a Washington-based law firm and political consultancy.
The collaboration is said to have been aimed at not only clearing Anwar’s name as he served his prison sentence for sodomy but also finding ways to persuade the White House to build political pressure against Najib’s government, which was then plagued by the 1MDB global financial scandal.
While the report named Anwar’s daughter, Nurul Izzah, and PKR legal bureau chief Sivarasa Rasiah as those who had received emails from a lawyer linked to the US entity, MalaysiaNow did not disclose if the party leaders had responded to such communications.
Malaysiakini has contacted both PKR leaders for their comments on the matter and is awaiting a response.
The MalaysiaNow report came on the heels of a leaked 13-page document understood to be a “communications plan” prepared in August last year, allegedly as part of Daim’s family’s efforts to preserve his reputation amid legal action by the MACC.
The late Daim Zainuddin
The plan, designed to run over two years up to the next general election, outlined a strategy which seemingly seeks to undermine the government's narrative by framing legal proceedings against Daim and his family as a politically motivated attack, rather than a legitimate anti-corruption effort.
Under a sub-heading titled “positioning”, one of the stated matters is to “raise doubts about political timing and motives” while humanising Daim and his family, as well as reframing public debate on fairness, due process, and transparency.
In a section regarding “background briefings with key international media”, the document stated that such moves are being prepared to “help shape their perspective on Malaysia/influence their editorialising”.
Among the media agencies named in the plan’s “target list” are the BBC, Financial Times, The Economist, The Times, and the New York Times.
Plan’s strategy
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, Anwar asserted that the plan “involves pressure and accountability, as well as questions the credibility of the country’s system and institutions”.
He added that based on records obtained by police investigations thus far, there have been six meetings in the country and overseas involving companies, organisations, and figures linked to the supposed plan.
The plan’s strategy, the prime minister said, included obtaining information and exerting influence through international roundtables and NGOs to deploy an “international push” before “briefing Bloomberg for further action”.
Under a sub-heading titled “positioning”, one of the stated matters is to “raise doubts about political timing and motives” while humanising Daim and his family, as well as reframing public debate on fairness, due process, and transparency.
In a section regarding “background briefings with key international media”, the document stated that such moves are being prepared to “help shape their perspective on Malaysia/influence their editorialising”.
Among the media agencies named in the plan’s “target list” are the BBC, Financial Times, The Economist, The Times, and the New York Times.
Plan’s strategy
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, Anwar asserted that the plan “involves pressure and accountability, as well as questions the credibility of the country’s system and institutions”.
He added that based on records obtained by police investigations thus far, there have been six meetings in the country and overseas involving companies, organisations, and figures linked to the supposed plan.
The plan’s strategy, the prime minister said, included obtaining information and exerting influence through international roundtables and NGOs to deploy an “international push” before “briefing Bloomberg for further action”.
“Their plan included contacting all foreign media with a strategy of questioning the government’s efforts, particularly (those concerning) the MACC, and arranging moves through the Parliament, which concerns us (as the plan involved) utilising contacts among parliamentarians to destabilise (the government),” he said.
He also urged those attempting to defend the plan to consider that the matter could possibly be linked to “prominent Zionist groups”, and for authorities to be provided the necessary time and space to complete their probe.
“I do not think everyone in the opposition would endorse (the plan), even if it is said to benefit them, to collude in such an effort…What are we choosing to defend? Is there no one else in the world to defend our position other than referring to this Zionist figure, who clearly opposes Islam and countries defending Gaza?
“I know many opposition figures who may disagree with me politically but would not collude (with the plan) - of that I am confident. One or two others, I am not sure - I will have to ask Arau after this, but generally, I am confident,” he added.
‘False and preposterous’
Previously, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail said police are probing an alleged plot to exert pressure on Anwar and MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki.
According to Khalid, the plot involved an "influential individual" utilising international media outlets, with the case being probed under Section 124B of the Penal Code, which criminalises activities deemed detrimental to parliamentary democracy and carries a jail term of up to 20 years.
The probe came after police received a report over the alleged conspiracy on Feb 26, with the report implicating a woman who allegedly held an online meeting in July last year to discuss the purported plan.
Daim's two children, two lawyers, and several representatives of an international strategic communications firm are also said to have attended the meeting.
Daim’s wife, Na’imah Abdul Khalid, has since denied any form of effort to topple the government, asserting that the content of the police report was “false and preposterous”.
Na’imah Abdul Khalid
She also denied any suggestion of her involvement in the international news agency Bloomberg’s exposé implicating Azam as not only irresponsible but also an affront to the journalists concerned.
She added that by using enforcement agencies in politically charged circumstances, the government has only confirmed the main thrust of the Bloomberg report, which alleged the weaponisation of institutional powers.
She also denied any suggestion of her involvement in the international news agency Bloomberg’s exposé implicating Azam as not only irresponsible but also an affront to the journalists concerned.
She added that by using enforcement agencies in politically charged circumstances, the government has only confirmed the main thrust of the Bloomberg report, which alleged the weaponisation of institutional powers.
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