No scandal here, says Melaka exco

MELAKA: A state executive councillor who has been caught in an alleged sex scandal has finally broken his silence, saying that the video clip and WhatsApp messages that went viral were fake.

“This is a form of defamation designed to ruin my political career. It first surfaced during the Umno divisional election,” said Datuk Rais Yasin (pic).

On March 18, the Paya Rumput assemblyman defeated incumbent Datuk Seri Mohamad Ali Mohamad to win the Tangga Batu Umno division chief’s post.

Rais was composed when he met reporters yesterday after his working visit to inspect the Bachang wet market after a portion of its roof collapsed.

He said the allegations against him were an attempt by his political foes to shame him. He said he would consider suing those who made the defamatory statements.

Rais, the Melaka Umno deputy chairman, said he was willing to face any consequences and would cooperate with the authorities if investigations were initiated.

“This kind of accusation is unbecoming. I was taken aback to see the viral post and screenshots,” he said.

Rais, the state housing and local government, climate change and disaster management committee chairman, said his main priority now was to focus on working closely with Melaka Chief Minister (Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh) to bring more progress to the state without being distracted by such issues.

On Tuesday, Ab Rauf dismissed a social media post on the scandal. He said such an accusation could be a deliberate move to undermine the state government.

He, too, said it was possible the video was doctored.

A post with a video clip and WhatsApp message was circulated on social media on Tuesday (April 25).

Ab Rauf said he did not discount the possibility that the post, showing the exco member engaging in an “obscene” phone conversation with a woman, was circulated by political foes.

Meanwhile, the chairman of a non-governmental organisation here has filed a report at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s office (MACC) over the issue.

Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia’s Melaka chapter chairman Mohd Zamri Abu Bakar said he hoped the MACC would initiate an investigation against the exco man.

“I have provided evidence to back the claims,” he said after filing the report yesterday.

Melaka MACC director Mohd Shahril Che Saad confirmed receiving the report.