Cops urge Zahid, Anwar to lodge report on leaked phone call

Police today urged Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim to come forward and lodge a report if they truly believe that they have been slandered in connection with an audio recording of an alleged conversation between them that recently went viral on social media.

Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said they had received seven reports from various parties on the matter so far but none from the two political leaders or their representatives.

“We are looking at the public reaction to that. If it gets to the point of making people worried and upset, we will launch an investigation.

“So far, I have not been informed of any report made by Zahid and Anwar. We will wait. If it is true that they have been slandered, just come forward and lodge a report,” he told reporters after attending an event in Melaka.

Hamid said follow-up action would be taken and investigation papers opened only when police reports have been lodged by the individuals involved.

“The process of assessing evidence including the analysis of the audio recording will be conducted when the investigation papers are opened,” he added.

Meanwhile, in Ipoh, Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin said the two leaders should lodge a police report if they were not involved in the telephone conversation.

“If Zahid believes that it wasn’t him, he should be brave enough to lodge a report. But as of yesterday, no report was lodged either by him or Anwar,” he said after attending a programme there today.