PUTRAJAYA, June 20 — Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today there is no need for Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali to go on leave despite investigations into the latter’s alleged sex video scandal, calling the matter a political ploy against the Economic Affairs Minister.
Speaking to reporters today, Dr Mahathir said that leave of absence is only needed if anyone in the government is accused of wrongdoings or crimes, which questions their integrity.
Dr Mahathir said that Azmin’s matter however, does not fall under the said categories, adding that the former Selangor mentri besar would also not hamper current investigations into the scandal.
“Why? They can continue, he is not going to be any obstruction to the investigation.
“Either investigations on wrongdoing or crimes they can take leave. But this is a political thing. In fact, it is intended to embarrass him and to ask him to take leave,” he said when met at the Prime Minister’s Department’s Hari Raya celebration.
PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail yesterday said that the PKR political bureau will decide whether action is to be taken against Azmin, following sex videos allegedly implicating him and another party member.
He said the party leadership will discuss if action is to be taken against Azmin’s accuser Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz later that evening, but remained coy when asked about the PKR deputy president.
Haziq, who was initially suspended from his role as the senior private secretary to Deputy Primary Industries Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, was today sacked from his job, owing to the sex video clip featuring two men having sex, which was leaked earlier this week.
Haziq insists he is a victim, saying the alleged tryst was supposed to be private but instead recorded and released to the public.
He also said he is fearful of ending up missing or dead like Mongolian model Altantuya Sharriibuu, which was why he came forward with the confession.
Azmin, on the other hand, has denied these allegations, insisting it is an inside job from someone trying to destroy his political career.
