Sarawak Report news on draft charge sheet malicious - Ahmad Zahid

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today described as malicious a report on the Sarawak Report news portal on the existence of an alleged draft charge sheet against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Saying that the report was intended to create a negative perception of the prime minister, he said he left it to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to undertake an investigation and had instructed the Inspector-General of Police to act on the matter.

“I officially deny the existence of such a document or any letter of authority from the Attorney-General's Chambers for the arrest and prosecution of the prime minister. The Sarawak Report news is malicious and intended to create a negative perception of the prime minister.

"The (new) Attorney-General has issued a denial. Denials have also been made by several other officials, that there is no such document," he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the Master Committee on Migrant Management in Sabah at Bukit Aman here.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the home minister, was asked about the action to be taken against Sarawak Report over the publication of the report. New Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali had denied the existence of such a report.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar were also present at the press conference.

Asked whether there was a need for legal or political action against Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin over a recent video recording taken at his residence that had gone viral, Ahmad Zahid said the important thing was the stand of the former deputy prime minister to remain with the party and government.

Ahmad Zahid said Muhyiddin had contributed a great deal to the government and party as the deputy prime minister and UMNO deputy president and called on all quarters to respect them for the situation they were facing now.

"I spoke to Tan Sri Muhyiddin myself. The video recording was not from an official source for him to state how he happened to be in it. It was circulated to make it seem like Tan Sri Muhyiddin had expressed an antagonistic view.

"In fact, his stand as the UMNO deputy president is clear. He will continue to support the party. He has also said that anyone wanting to raise a vote of no-confidence (against Najib in the Dewan Rakyat) would not get his support.

"His stand is very clear, he wants to continue to be with the party and government leadership," he said.

Commenting on former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's statement that the new Cabinet did not have the confidence of the public, Ahmad Zahid said all quarters should respect the decision made by Najib.

"It is impossible to satisfy everyone. As it is the prerogative of the prime minister, he would have considered his views before making the announcement (on the Cabinet line-up)," he said.

He said the prime minister would have obtained clear information on the background and record of every individual appointed to help him with the national administration.

Najib last Tuesday announced a Cabinet reshuffle that saw Muhyiddin being replaced by Ahmad Zahid as the deputy prime minister as well as the dropping of four ministers and the appointment of seven new ministers.