MACC start investigations on spread of letter seeking UMNO candidates to support Ahmad Zahid as PM - Azam

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has opened investigation papers on a letter that has gone viral on social media, alleging that UMNO candidates contesting in the 15th General Election (GE15) have to pledge their commitment to support UMNO President, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the Prime Minister's post.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki who confirmed the process said the MACC had received reports regarding the spread of the letter on social media while the case would be investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009, for misuse of power.

"We opened investigations on the matter because it is an offence due to the misuse of powers. There are claims that candidates for the GE15 were forced to sign the letter to pledge their support for UMNO President to be the Prime Minister," he told Bernama, today.

The letter which is said to have gone viral contains the UMNO party letterhead and contains the signature of Ahmad Zahid and UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan. The content of the letter seeks UMNO and Barisan Nasional candidates who win in the GE15 to nominate and support Ahmad Zahid for the post of Prime Minister.

Azam said the MACC would be calling up the relevant parties to assist in investigations.

The MACC chief said among those to be called up would be Barisan Nasional's Communications Director (BN Comms) Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah whose name is stated in the letter.

Meanwhile, Shamsul Anuar's Political Secretary, Datuk Azizan Md Zain today lodged a police report at the Dang Wangi police station, urging the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the spread of the letter, as he claimed the letter was fake.

The BN Comms legal team also lodged a report at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) since the letter was going viral on social media.

BN Comms secretary Dazma Shah Daud said any information released by the party was only through its official BN platform, BN Comms and UMNO Online.

-- BERNAMA