THE author of a book deriding Anwar Ibrahim as an unfit prime minister material admitted that he had been labelled an opportunist and extorter when he attempted to sell the rights to a book on former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin a decade ago.

Yahaya Ismail, author of Why Anwar can’t be Prime Minister, is being accused by the PKR president of extortion after claiming that the writer asked for RM400,000 to sell the rights to his manuscript.

Yahaya admits facing similar accusations in 2009 when he approached Khairy about buying rights to The Downs and Outs of Khairy Jamaluddin about the then-rising political star.

“Khairy also accused me of attempting to extort from him by trying to sell the manuscript for RM100,000,” said Yahaya.

He denies attempting to blackmail either politician or receiving any payment from them.

“They said I was trying to extort them if I didn’t give the manuscript. So I gave a copy to Khairy for him to read and decide.

“I’m open to any offers. In the publishing industry, this is business. Nothing extraordinary,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Commenting further on Khairy’s police report, Yahaya said no action was taken against him after he explained to the police that he had sold his copyright.

“The case is finished and there was no prosecution. If he (Khairy) said I was extorting him, did I get any money?  None. Just like Anwar.”

Anwar, the Port Dickson MP, said Yahaya threatened to publish a book about him if he did not pay RM400,000.

The author of several political books said he would always be accused of being a “paid hack” whenever the subject did not like his work.

However, he maintained that his books are based on facts.

“I have never been taken to court… I have never gotten sued because my stories are based on facts. I also put my name on every manuscript or book I have written.

“When they cannot counter with facts, they accuse me of being a paid hack.”

He also rejected Sg Petani MP Johari Abdul’s claims that the manuscript slandered Anwar while trying to promote PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.

He said he started work four months ago and completed it before Azmin’s alleged sex videos were circulated last week.

Yahaya said he is going to replace chapter 15 – Azmin Ali will be PM – after the video controversy has been resolved, as he no longer felt the economic affairs minister is worthy of leading the country.

“The book was ready before the Azmin video case. Azmin was good after becoming Selangor menteri besar. But with this video, I’m going to take out chapter 15 when I publish this book later.

“I am going to edit and write about someone else who is PM material. The person is not from Pakatan Harapan but is capable of rivalling Dr Mahathir (Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad).”

Yahaya said he intends to publish the book on Anwar although no one has bought the copyright. – June 21, 2019.