ECONOMIC Affairs Minister Azmin Ali has denied being in a viral sex video as alleged by a deputy minister’s aide, calling it a a nefarious plot to assassinate his reputation and character
in an attempt to destroy his political career.

“I refer to the various media reports today publishing the allegations of an individual regarding a sex video purporting to implicate me. I categorically deny this vicious libel upon me,” Azmin, said in a statement today.

He was referring to a video confession by Haziq Abdul Aziz, the principal private secretary to the deputy primary industries minister, who named the PKR deputy president as his partner in the sex video that went viral yesterday.

Azmin’s statement this afternoon comes more than 24 hours since the sex video showing two men in bed, was disseminated yesterday to journalists who were added to a WhatsApp group by an unknown mobile phone number.

The media have refrained from naming the minister, whose likeness appears in the video which some, such as PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin, a known Azmin supporter, said is a fake.

Earlier today, however, Haziq released a 30-second video on his Facebook page confessing to be one in bed with the other man, whom he named as Azmin.

Haziq also said the video was taken “without his consent” in a hotel room in Sandakan on May 11, the day of the seat’s by-election.

Azmin said there have been a series of “concerted attempts” since the last few months to vilify him.

He added that had been “intimidation against the safety of my family and I in the final week of Ramadan”, besides accusations of corruption which he called “vile and baseless”.

“I utterly condemn this brand of gutter politics. It has no place in this era of New Malaysia, where we are working to rebuild the nation through institutional reforms.”

Azmin said he has told his lawyers to take action against the individual who made the allegation against him.

He did not name Haziq in his press statement.

Azmin also said legal action will be taken against “other perpetrators”.

“I will avail myself of all legal means at my disposal to expose these culprits.

“I will not submit to these cowardly acts and heinous attempts to distract the public from the pressing concerns of the nation and the successes of the Ministry of Economic Affairs in the planning and implementation of national development policies that are sustainable and inclusive,” he said.

He added that he now places his trust in the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the matter. – June 12, 2019.