Patriot to CIA letter author: Explain your actions

PETALING JAYA: The National Patriots Association (Patriot) has lodged a police report against Hasanah Ab Hamid, the former Research Division head in the Prime Minister's Department, at the Subang Jaya police headquarters.

A letter reportedly from the division was sent to the CIA, appealing to the United States to support former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's administration, even if Barisan Nasional won with a simple majority or a single seat.

Hasanah, who was the division’s director-general at the time, had reportedly signed the letter.

According to a Malaysiakini report, Supt Choo Lily confirmed that Patriot lodged the report on Tuesday (July 24).

Patriot has also demanded that Hasanah explain her letter to the CIA.

In a press conference at its office in Subang Jaya, Patriots president Brig Jen (Rtd) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji claimed Hasanah had committed a serious offence by inviting an outside party to delve into the country's internal matters.

"Her action could affect the sovereignty of the country. What kind of help would the CIA offer if it was willing to help? If the help materialised, eventually we would have to bow to them," said Mohamed Arshad.

The association also questioned Hasanah's loyalty to the country and asked whether she was under the instruction of a certain party.

"Did she receive instruction from a certain party? Did she get an incentive for writing the letter? Or was she threatened to write the letter?

"And what did she mean when she mentioned that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is anti-West and anti-Semitic? Why was it necessary that she tarnish Mahathir's image in such way?

"She has to answer all of these," said Mohamed Arshad said.

He also cautioned that the accusations could affect the international business community.

According to reports, Najib had denied knowing about the letter, saying: “I am surprised. I did not even know of its existence. Not all letters have to go through me."