‘I categorically deny this vicious libel’: Malaysian minister Azmin Ali condemns gay sex video as attempt to ruin his reputation
- Malaysia’s Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali claimed the video and accompanying accusations of corruption were the latest in a series of concerted attempts over the past few months to vilify him
- He said his lawyers would take legal action against the culprits
“I categorically deny this vicious libel upon me,” he said in a statement on Wednesday evening. “This is nothing but a nefarious plot to assassinate my reputation and character in an attempt to destroy my political career.”
Azmin claimed the video and accompanying accusations of corruption were the latest in a series of concerted attempts over the past few months to vilify him, but said the perpetrators would not distract him from planning and implementing “national development policies that are sustainable and inclusive”.
Malaysian minister implicated in gay sex video
Politicians from both sides of the divide condemned the gutter politics, urging Malaysians to refrain from viewing or sharing the video.
Lawmaker and PKR colleague Nurul Izzah Anwar released a statement saying the politics of “personal attacks and character assassinations” had to be left in the past, while opposition lawmaker Khairy Jamaluddin criticised the use of “despicable allegations” and “sordid news”.
Azmin’s family, too, lashed out against the perpetrators on Twitter, with his daughter Farah Amira calling the move “disgusting”.
“This kind of gutter politics isn’t just messing with a person but the entire family … How do you sleep at night knowing you could’ve (but too bad you FAILED) broken up a family? This is low, even for you.”
In a statement released on Wednesday evening, the PKR political bureau threw its support behind Azmin and his family, and reiterated the party’s rejection of “disgusting and despicable” politics.
One year into ‘new Malaysia’, but the same old Mahathir?
“It’s dirty politics. If you cannot win against somebody, don’t do these dirty things. You can’t be showing indecent pictures of people when you are losing,” he told local media at an event on Wednesday, adding that he did not know who was behind the video.
“You believe it? Please don’t tell me you are stupid to that extent. Nowadays, you can produce all kinds of pictures if you are clever enough. One day, you may see my picture like that.”
The sex video, which was sent to members of the media earlier this week in a WhatsApp chat group titled Jemputan Raya (Hari Raya gathering), quickly made the rounds on social media in Malaysia.
Another video clip was released several hours after Azmin’s statement on Wednesday.
On Wednesday morning, politician Muhammad Haziq Abdul Aziz, who is an aide to a different cabinet minister, said in a Facebook video that he was the man in the sex tape. He claimed the video had been shot without his permission during a Sabah state by-election on May 11 in Azmin’s hotel room.
“I urge the MACC to investigate Azmin over allegations of corruption. He is not an individual who is fit to be a leader,” he said.
Will Anwar Ibrahim actually succeed Mahathir as Malaysia’s next PM?
However, insiders believe Mahathir may be seeking to transfer power to Azmin rather than Anwar, a belief bolstered after Anwar told media there were people who sought to “sabotage these arrangements”, although he later denied making these remarks.
