PETALING JAYA, 12 Nov 2008: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has yet to publicly state its position on the leakage of text messages (SMS) involving the deputy prime minister.
The Nut Graph has tried numerous times to get a response from MCMC on whether they are investigating how the alleged SMS exchange between Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Datuk Shafee Abdullah was leaked to the public.
MCMC has neither confirmed the authenticity of the SMS exchange between the two, nor stated its position on the controversial leakage of the text messages.
The SMS exchange took place over a period of about one month, from 8 Nov to 2 Dec 2006.
Shafee was the initial counsel for Abdul Razak Baginda, an adviser to Najib, who was charged and later acquitted with abetting the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu. Two police officers are facing trial for her murder.
The text messages first came to light in news portal Malaysia-Today on 11 Oct. Since then, opposition parties and some civil societies have charged that the SMS exchange indicates an abuse of power by Najib.
Last month, the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) also refused to confirm if it is investigating the possible abuse of power brought to light by the alleged SMS exchange.
The chair of Bar Council’s Human Rights Committee, Edmund Bon, said the text messages, if true, raise serious questions which require further investigation.
“The text messages infer that Najib did not take a passive role in the investigations leading to the prosecution of the three accused. It appeared that Najib had untrammeled access to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and high-ranking officers at the Attorney General’s Chambers,” said Bon.
“The sentence of ‘RB will have to face a tentative charge but all is not lost’ gives rise to suspicion of political interference,” said Bon.
Najib has denied any abuse of power in the SMS exchange with Shafee. But he has also not categorically denied the authenticity of the transcript of the SMS exchange reproduced by Malaysia Today.
