‘I will stay on as minister’

Reports by FARIK ZOLKEPLI, M. KUMAR, TARRENCE TAN, FATIMAH ZAINAL and JADE CHAN 

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Azmin Ali appears undaunted by calls for him to go on leave, saying that he would continue his duties as a federal minister and Pakatan Harapan leader.

“I remain focused to deliver as the Eco­nomic Affairs Minister.

“I’m here to support the Prime Minister and we will continue to move forward to deliver to the people,” he told reporters at a Hari Raya open house here yesterday.

Last Friday, the group Otai Reformasi had asked Azmin to take a break pending a police probe into the sex video case that had implicated him and another man.

Azmin said he has yet to be called up by the police, adding that his aide Hilman Idham would have his statement recorded tomorrow.

“No (the police hasn’t called me yet). They summoned my political secretary (on Friday) and I was informed that they will continue to record his statement (tomorrow),” he said.

Azmin was steadfast in maintaining that the scandal was “gutter politics”, saying that he would leave it to the authorities to investigate and urged for no intervention.

On Wednesday, Haziq openly declared that it was him and Azmin who were seen in the sex video, which has been making its rounds on social media.

“This is gutter politics and I have made my statement clear that I will not condone this.

“Let the authorities continue with the investigation and no one should intervene in the process,” he said.

Azmin said there had been an outpouring of support from his constituents in the wake of the scandal.

“You see, my people, my constituency know me very well. They have been together with me. I’m happy to know that many people came forward and showed their support; they came to my house and I must thank them for the support,” he said.

In Shah Alam, Selangor Mentri Besar Amirudin Shari urged Azmin to continue with his job as Economic Affairs Minister and not be distracted by the allegations.

“Following the call by Tun Dr Mahathir Mo­­ha­­mad and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, I feel that Azmin should continue with his work and not be distracted by these allegations.

“All the issues that are being raised are just to distract the minister and the government’s work in creating and building a Malaysia Baharu,” said Amirudin.

Asked about the status of Haziq’s PKR membership, Amirudin said it would be decided by the party’s central leadership and disciplinary board.

“There is a certain process that needs to be observed in dealing with such matters, so it will be up to the leaders at PKR headquarters to decide,” he said after attending Central i-City shopping centre’s opening ceremony.