Dr M under fake news probe

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Hara­pan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Moha­mad (pic) is under police investigation for allegedly spreading fake news.

City police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim confirmed this, saying that the investigation came about after a police report was lodged against Dr Mahathir for his claims that his chartered plane was sabotaged, according to Bernama.

The report was lodged by Umno Grassroots Movement, whose chairman Datuk Zulkarnain Mahdar said the allegations had led to anxiety among Malaysians about the level of public safety.

Comm Mazlan said the police report was one of eight that had been lodged with the Kuala Lumpur police in connection with GE14 since the campaign period began last Saturday.

Two of the cases involved ceramah allegedly held without a permit; and one for mischief involving fire, he said.

He said there were also three cases of trespassing, one under the Anti-Fake News Act and one involving an inquiry against the police.

“In the case of the fake news, it involved a claim by Dr Mahathir that the jet which he had chartered to fly to Langkawi was sabotaged last Friday,” he said after opening a crime prevention awareness programme yesterday.

Dr Mahathir claimed last Friday that the plane he had boarded to Langkawi was sabotaged.

An investigation was carried out by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and private jet charter firm VistaJet.

Both released statements on Sunday that there was no indication of sabotage.

CAAM chairman Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said the aircraft was unable to fly due to air leakage from the left-hand nose wheel, which was a minor technical fault.

“The denial by the CAAM is not the result of a proper investigation, it is just a denial to say that what I’ve said is not true,” Dr Mahathir responded in a statement later.

Meanwhile, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said the investigation is proof of the current Government’s desperation and is not worried that it would affect Pakatan’s chances at the polls.

“This will only strengthen our resolve to fight Umno and Barisan Nasional and make sure we build a stronger Federal Government after May 9,” he said on the sidelines of a ceramah in Sungai Buloh, Selangor, last night.