Police urged to probe authenticity of audio clip

PETALING JAYA: The authorities should launch a probe to determine the authenticity of an audio recording of a conversation purportedly between Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, says former law minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

He urged the Home Ministry to ascertain the authenticity of the audio recording.

“We cannot leave it just like that. We really want to know if the audio clip is true or fake. Only an investigation by the police will give us the real story, ” he said yesterday.

Nazri also urged Ahmad Zahid to resign as Umno president, claiming that the Bagan Datuk MP’s problems were impeding the party’s progress and might affect its chances in the next general election.

“His problems are becoming the party’s problems. In fact, he has made many commitments without the consensus of the supreme council, ” he said.

Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said only the political bureau could make a decision to refer the president to the party disciplinary board.

“It is hard to say, ” she said when asked if she would suggest that Ahmad Zahid be referred to the board over the leaked audio clip.

A news portal quoted Perlis Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim as saying that a party president should not be conducting negotiations with outsiders, especially those from the opposition, without the approval of the supreme council as it goes against the party’s stand.

Umno supreme council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said the audio recording allegedly between Ahmad Zahid and Anwar was of high quality and a conspiracy at the highest level.

“Genuine or not, this is definitely politically motivated.

“The details of the conversation are very clear and of high quality. It must have used sophisticated equipment which common people cannot afford.

“Is this conspiracy at the highest level?” Puad posted on Facebook.