KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul confirmed on Thursday receiving a letter from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim instructing the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to investigate the source of information that led to a controversial claim made in the House.
“I have received a letter from the Prime Minister this morning, who has directed MCMC to further investigate the matter, specifically the origin of the information.
“So let us wait for MCMC to investigate the source, perhaps a certain portal. I don’t know yet,” Johari said during the sitting on Thursday (Aug 7).
The matter was raised by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Perikatan–Pagoh), who questioned the basis of Anwar’s earlier claim that he (Muhyiddin) had defended foreigners over the petrol subsidy issue.
“The statement came from him personally. Where did Tambun MP (Anwar) get that information from?” the former prime minister asked.
In response, Johari said: “It’s okay. I myself don’t know where he got it from. But the fact remains that I have this letter.”
Muhyiddin then urged Anwar to retract the claim and issue an apology.
“I am asking just one thing from the honourable Tambun—simply apologise. If Tambun refuses to apologise, I will raise this with the Speaker and the Rights and Privileges Committee,” he said.
Later, in a press conference, opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin reiterated the call for an apology, saying the opposition bloc would be willing to accept Anwar’s apology if he simply issued one.
