FORMER Umno division leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan lodged a police report against government propaganda chief Mohd Puad Zarkashi for “slandering and insulting” personalities in the ongoing Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the forex loses 25 years ago.

Puad was accused of slandering Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim after the testimony of second finance minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

In his report, which was lodged at the Dang Wangi police station, Khairuddin said Puad violated Section 12(2) of the Commissions of Enquiry Act 1950 (Act 119) by “slandering and insulting” the three men as well as compromising the honour of the RCI.

“The evil statement by Puad contradicted statements by the witnesses queried at the RCI and (Puad) has no relevant information (to corroborate his claims),” said the former Batu Kawan Umno deputy chief.

On Friday, Puad accused Nor Mohamed of trying to shield Dr Mahathir from prosecution over the central bank’s forex losses 25 years ago. The RCI is tasked to probe the forex losses.

“Certainly, Nor Mohamed avoided implicating the then prime minister (Dr Mahathir) and finance minister (Anwar Ibrahim),” Puad had said.

Puad further alleged that the actions of Nor Mohamed, a former assistant governor at BNM, was a sign of gratitude towards Dr Mahathir, who appointed him as finance adviser during the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis.

Yesterday, Dr Mahathir’s lawyer Mohamed Haniff Kathri Abdulla said Puad’s comments contradicted the testimonies given by former Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) deputy governor Lin See Yan, former BNM governors Zeti Akhtar Aziz and Ahmad Mohd Don.

“The ‘higher-ups’ that Nor Mohamed was speaking of were the deputy governor and governor of Bank Negara and not as (Puad) confusingly mistaken to be the finance minister (Anwar) and prime minister (Dr Mahathir).”  

“The fact is (Puad’s comments) are not only false and twisted facts, but it contradicts all the statements presented by the witnesses so far,” Haniff had said.

However, Special Affairs Department (Jasa) adviser Faisal Ismail Aziz, defended the unit chief, Puad, for criticising former Nor Mohamed’s testimony at the RCI.

Faisal, who used to run Umno’s online campaigns, had said Puad, who is the director-general Jasa, was only asking questions, which did not harm the witness.

“Since when can a ‘question’ from the public threaten or injure a witness?” Faisal had said in a statement. – September 10, 2017.