[ Laman Ehwal Semasa ReformIS ]
Date: 19 Aug 1999
Time: 20:52:43
Remote User: -
Malaysian police quiz Anwar aide about "secret" documents
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (AFP) - Malaysian police questioned Thursday an aide of former ousted deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim under the country's Official Secrets Act.
"I was questioned by the police for about two hours. I had to give a written statement," Mohamad Ezam Mohamad Nor, Anwar's former political secretary told AFP.
"They asked me if I was holding classified documents," he said, adding that "within my knowledge, there is no document related to Malaysian security. Those documents expose corruption and abuse of power."
Ezam recently revealed that Anwar had taken overseas at least six boxes containing government documents.
Following Ezam's admission, Anwar has come under strong attack by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his administration, in particular members of his ruling United Malays National Organisation who urged the police to investigate.
A Mahathir loyalist, Ibrahim Ali was quoted by the New Straits Times newspaper Monday as calling for the introduction of a Treason Act with the death sentence for those convicted under it.
Ezam also said he told police that the documents were not a threat to national security nor were they classified documents.
"I remained firm, it has nothing to do with national security," he said.
Anwar had said the "secret" documents in his possession related to corruption and abuse of power, adding "I do not keep related documents to national security."
Anwar, once Mahathir's heir apparent, was dismissed last September. In April he received a six-year jail sentence for corruption, and he was returned to the dock in June to face a new charge of sodomy.
Last month, he lodged police reports of corruption against Mahathir and against two senior cabinet ministers.
Mahathir had said he expected Anwar to file "many more reports" with police alleging wrongdoings by himself and other ministers, in an attempt to prolong the sodomy trial until after the elections.
General elections are due to be held next June but Mahathir is widely expected to call a snap poll amid signs of economic recovery.