THE Special Branch is investigating Bachok MP Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz over his claim of having links with the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), said police sources.

The PAS central committee member allegedly professed to such a link in an audio clip in which he also admitted his party received money from Umno.

The words uttered in the audio clip were “Ana (I) can talk to the American CIA, who always contacts me”.

Sources told The Malaysian Insight that a number of police reports were lodged against Nik Abduh by political parties and non-government organisations over the alleged CIA link and the RM90 million that PAS allegedly received from Umno.

These reports have also come to the attention of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) , which is investigating the alleged funds transfer.

“And now the Special Branch is looking into the audio clip on his admission of links with the CIA. This is not a small matter,” a source said.

“The CIA functions just like the Special Branch. We need to investigate the spy agency’s relationship with Nik Abduh to ensure that national safety and security were not compromised.”

Last week, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan admitted the voice in the controversial recording was indeed Nik Abduh’s. He said the audio clip, however, was not published in full.

He said the public must listen to the complete recording to understand the context of Nik Abduh’s speech.

In the recording, which made the rounds last year ahead of the 14th general election, Nik Abduh is heard saying PAS had accepted money from Umno.

Following Takiyuddin’s disclosure, Nik Abduh said on Facebook he had wanted to come clean about the recording, but PAS leaders, including president Abdul Hadi Awang, told him to deny everything. Hadi, he said, had given him his blessing to lie.

Until then, Nik Abduh had repeatedly denied the authenticity of the recording, calling it “nonsense and slander”.

The issue resurfaced after Hadi settled his London suit against whistle-blower site Sarawak Report over a 2016 story alleging PAS had taken RM90 million from Umno.

After the out of court settlement, a report was lodged, leading the MACC to investigate Sarawak Report’s claim.

Nik Abduh is among several PAS leaders who have had their statements recorded by the anti-graft agency.

Hadi, meanwhile, continued to evade the question of whether he had given his “blessing” for Nik Abduh to lie about the party receiving Umno funds.

“I didn’t watch the video (clip). I didn’t read (about it). Hence, I don’t want to comment,” he was quoted in media reports as saying on Saturday.

“Let’s see if it is true or not. (I’ll have to) read (about) it first. There are a lot of things (going on) and I’m busy with other matters,” Hadi had said when pressed on the issue. – February 18, 2019.