Baling MP probed for calling PM ‘an agent of Israel’

PETALING JAYA: Bukit Aman is investigating Baling MP Hassan Saad for defamation and intentional insult for allegedly calling Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim Anwar an agent of Israel.

Police secretary Deputy Comm Datuk Norsiah Mohd Saaduddin said police reports have been lodged against the PAS MP and that the probe will be carried out by the CID Special Investigations Unit.

The case has been classified under Section 504 and Section 500 of the Penal Code for intentionally insulting and provoking any person and defamation, respectively.

Hassan would also be investigated for the misuse of networking facilities under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, said DCP Norsiah in a statement yesterday.

Putrajaya PKR Youth leader Ezam Zaidi lodged a report yesterday, urging the police to investigate the allegation against Anwar.

He said PKR had identified two individuals responsible for spreading the allegation and described it as malicious intent against the Prime Minister.

Separately, Anwar Ibrahim has issued a three-day deadline for Hassan to apologise over allegations on social media that the Prime Minister was in contact with Israel.

In a letter of demand from law firm SN Nair and Partners, Anwar is also seeking a retraction of the audio posting on Twitter by “Mohd Ropi Mat Sin” on Nov 27.

In the audio clip, an unidentified woman with a northern dialect claimed that Hassan had made the allegations concerning Anwar and Israel.

In the legal letter sighted, Anwar claimed that he was defamed by the audio clip uploaded on Twitter.

“Our client stresses that the defamatory words and audio clip which were published have been made maliciously.

“The slanderous words and audio are defamatory and slanderous towards our client,” read the letter.

However, the letter stated that should Hassan deny any involvement in the posting, then the Perikatan Nasional MP had three days beginning yesterday to provide a written confirmation to deny his involvement to the Prime Minister’s legal team.

It said that should there be no response from Hassan in three days, then the legal team would consider this to be an admission by the MP and legal action would be taken.

Anwar is seeking damages and legal costs, as well as a written undertaking from Hassan not to repeat the allegations.

Anwar’s counsel SN Nair, confirmed that the letter of demand was sent to Hassan yesterday.

Attempts are being made to contact Hassan.

According to an English daily, Hassan had denied any involvement in the viral audio recording.