Aide admits meeting Haziq

PUTRAJAYA: An aide to Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali admitted he had met Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz just before the latter confessed on social media to be the one in the sex video.

Hilman Idham, who is also Gombak Setia assemblyman, said the meeting took place in a restaurant but declined to reveal what it was about.

“Yes,” Hilman told reporters when asked if the meeting with Haziq happened.

“I have submitted all information on that to the authorities. It is better if we leave space to the authorities to investigate the matter,” said Hilman, when asked what the meeting was about.

Hilman was speaking to reporters after lodging a police report as well as a qazaf report (false accusation of illicit sex) to the Federal Territories Religious Department (Jawi) here.

The report was on the sex video, which implicated Azmin, as well as Haziq’s claim that the two men involved was he and the minister.

Haziq, who was the private secretary to Deputy Primary Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, claimed that the tryst occurred at a hotel during the Sandakan by-election last month.

“We are confident that this case is a false allegation made to smear the reputation and good name of the Economic Affairs Minister.

“It is a conspiracy to stunt his growth in politics and career as the Economic Affairs Minister,” said Hilman.

In a Facebook post published yesterday, Haziq accused Azmin of using Hilman to force a denial that the minister was the man in the viral video.

“I was scared and the only comfort I received from you was when you sent Hilman to meet me at Zest Restaurant in Marriott Putrajaya on that fateful day.

“He forced me to deny that it was you in the viral video and asked me to lie for you. I asked for more time to consult my parents and this angered him.

“After I refused he made threats and said ‘this’ will be shut down within 48 hours with or without my help to lie,” Haziq wrote on his Facebook page.

In the same post, Haziq also claimed that there had been sexual encounters between him and Azmin in the past.

Haziq also claimed that Azmin had made video recordings for his “personal collection”.

“I am worried that more videos will be leaked and the luxury you have as a minister is deniability whereas my future is over.

“You even have the Prime Minister pledging his full support before any formal investigation has been done. Only the truth can set me free as I am concerned for the safety of my family and mine,” wrote Haziq.