Mukhriz challenges Azrin to deliver 'proof' linking him to Cambridge Analytica

Yasmin Ramlan Yasmin Ramlan Updated 6 years ago · Published on 21 Mar 2018 9:18PM · 4 Comments

Former Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir says he also welcomes his former aide's offer to show proof that he worked for Mukhriz until 2015, including during the 2013 general election. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, March 21, 2018.

FORMER Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir has challenged his former aide Azrin Azril to produce the evidence to support his allegations that Mukhriz received advice from Cambridge Analytica in the 2013 elections.

Mukhriz said he was also “looking forward” to seeing the proof that Azrin had offered to provide showing Azrin had worked for him and advised him on communications and strategy matters until 2015, including during the 2013 general election, and afterwards, when Mukhriz was menteri besar. 

“I welcome his offer to present the evidence he claims to possess, apparently showing I had lied about Cambridge Analytica and SCL Group not advising Kedah Barisan Nasional on the elections,” Mukhriz told The Malaysian Insight.

Cambridge Analytica was last week revealed to have used personal data mined from Facebook without permission, via a security breach that the social network had known but done nothing about for two years. Created in 2013 as an offshoot of British parent company SCL Group,  the firm with offices in London, New York City, and Washington, DC, offers data mining, data brokerage, and data analysis with strategic communication services for the electoral process.

Azrin had earlier today called Mukhriz a liar for denying he had consulted Cambridge Analytica for advice on Kedah Barisan Nasional’s 2013 election campaign.

Azrin had threatened to produce evidence to the contrary should Mukhriz persist in lying about his connection to the firm.

“It is time for Mukhriz to stop deliberately distorting the facts to save himself, and come clean,” said Azrin, who is now head of the the Southeast Asia division of SCL Group, the parent company of Cambridge Analytica.

Mukhriz said he accepted Azrin’s offer of proof to back up his allegations, saying he especially looked forward to seeing Azrin validate his claim that he was the former menteri besar’s media liaison.

“But I think all media representatives in Kedah know that my media officer was Fisol,” said Mukhriz.

Mukhriz said he stood by his denial that he engaged Cambridge Analytica’s services while leading the BN campaign in Kedah in the 13th general election.

“I stand by my statement yesterday denying the allegations, which are intended to deceive.” 

He had also said in the statement that Azrin was his media officer until 2013 and that Azrin was no longer holding the position when Mukhriz was installed as the menteri besar of Kedah. – March 21, 2018.

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Comments

  • This Cambridge Analytica scandal , whatever it is about, is a blessing in disguise for mukhriz. Without it, I doubt if anybody would even know that mukhriz exists.

    Even syed saddiq, who is younger than mukhriz and is lower ranked in Bersatu than mukhriz , Is a more visible figure from Bersatu than mukhriz .

    Mukhriz on the other hand , is Neither particularly courageous or vocal in fighting BN, nor does he seem to be that much of a force in organising Bersatu from behind the scenes. Neither can he go on the offensive nor is he much good on the defensive , it seems , and this is particularly sad cOnsidering the many years of political experience he has serving in the highest circle.

    Truth be told , it is so far a mystery to the Malaysian voters as to how or why mukhriz has made it as Bersatu deputy president.

    Perhaps this Cambridge analaytica scandal is just what’s mukhriz needs to finally show the Malaysian people his mettle .its about time.

    Posted 6 years ago by Nehru Sathiamoorthy · Reply

    • lol you're an idiot.

      Posted 6 years ago by Tommy richard · Reply

    • "This Cambridge Analytica scandal , whatever it is about" - you're seriously commenting about something you DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND? That's the definition of stupidity.

      Posted 6 years ago by Tommy richard · Reply

  • Cambridge Analytica was hired by BN, paid by BN, and are likely still paid by BN. How can anyone trust anything that they say? Around the world, they've been working with corrupt, crooked politicians and parties - the U.S, with the G.O.P and Drumpf, Mexico with Pena Nieto who has a ton of scandals of his own, India with the BJP, who also came in with big promises and achieved nothing, and obviously BN - and we know so much about how rotten that coalition is. Cambridge Analytica is a dirty company full of liars.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tommy richard · Reply