Agus: I am being framed

Outright denial: Mohammad Agus (left) speaking to the media during a press conference. With him is Abdul Wahab.

KAJANG: Citing an internal conspiracy to sabotage his career and reputation, former Community Communications Department (J-Kom) director-general Datuk Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff has claimed a video which appears to feature him was actually doctored.

The viral video showed a man looking like Mohammad Agus having an indecent conversation with another man named “Wahab”.

“I deny the video, I say that the video has been doctored to frame me,” he told a press conference yesterday.

Also at the press conference was J-Kom assistant officer Abdul Wahab Abdul Kadir Jilani, who claimed the video was created by an individual, he called “Mr H”, who wanted to sabotage Mohammad Agus.

Without revealing his identity, he said “Mr H” is an official in J-Kom and had lured him to film a video with Mohammad Agus, who was his superior.

Abdul Wahab, who admitted having called Mohammad Agus several times for casual chats, said the original video he filmed was without audio.

Abdul Wahab said he decided to come clean and tell the truth because he wanted to right the wrong.

“I am here to clarify the purported lewd video between me and Mohammad Agus that has gone viral recently was doctored and edited to degrade him.

“The conspiracy was created by several high-rank officials in J-Kom led by one Mr H to defame Mohammad Agus.”

Abdul Wahab, who joined J-Kom earlier this month, said Mr H approached him soon after and introduced to him several other officials at several hotels in Kuala Lumpur.

“He said he received information that Mohammad Agus was involved in immoral activities and he had been tasked to cleanse J-Kom from within.

“He also convinced me he had the support of several influential officials and showed me their conversations on WhatsApp,” said Abdul Wahab.

As a new staff member, Abdul Wahab said he was eager to deliver his task.

“I was directed to film a video with Mohammad Agus to gather proof that he was involved in immoral activities.

However, after finding out the video had gone viral, Abdul Wahab said he was shocked when he saw the video was edited using voiceover to make it look like Mohammad Agus and him were engaged in indecent and immoral activities.

“I wish to stress that the audio in the video was fake, doctored and not true,” he said.

He also said the video has affected his dignity and reputation and that of Mohammad Agus.

“Now I realise that I have been used and made a scapegoat by a certain party to sabotage Mohammad Agus.

“I’m not here to do damage control but to clarify things, as my family has been affected by this issue.

“I apologise to Mohammad Agus for my mistake. I also asked PMX to make things right in J-Kom and weed out the enemy within,” he said, referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Mohammad Agus, who admitted that he has been treating Abdul Wahab “like a son”, said he has instructed his lawyers to start legal procedures.

He said he filed a police report on Friday evening in Kajang and would send a letter of demand to those who spread the video.

“We have learnt (from the past) how politicians can be brought down with sexual accusations. Now it has happened to me,” he said.

To a question, he said his friendship with Abdul Wahab had been exploited to sabotage his career and reputation.

When asked, he said he knew who “Mr H” and the rest were, adding that he would not reveal their identities.

“I will leave it to my lawyers and the police to investigate,” he added.

Earlier, Mohammad Agus resigned from his position citing a new job offer in Indonesia.

However, when asked, he said he was not taking the offer and would stay to face the accusation.

“I will stay until this case is over,” he said.