MOHAMED Azmin Ali yesterday gave a statement to police over the sex video in which he is implicated.

His lawyer, N. Surendran, said police contacted the economic affairs minister’s office on Sunday, asking for Azmin’s statement as part of investigations.

Azmin, who is also PKR deputy president, gave priority to the matter and complied with cops’ request, said Surendran.

“There are obvious signs of an organised and systematic attempt to discredit and bring down the minister with this false and malicious video,” he said in a statement.

“The perpetrators had access to the leaked personal data of party members, sophisticated means and a clear political agenda.

“We trust that police will get to the bottom of this soon, and identify and take action against the culprits, according to the law.”

He did not say where Azmin’s statement was recorded.

Santubong PKR Youth chief Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz last week “confessed” to being one of the men in the video and named Azmin as the other individual.

“The video was made without my permission on May 11 during the Sandakan by-election in (the minister’s) room at Hotel Four Points.

“I urge the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate (the minister) for corruption. He is an individual unfit to be a leader.”

Haziq, who has been suspended from his duties as an aide to Deputy Primary Industries Minister Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, was arrested as he was about to board a flight to Manila, the Philippines, at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 6pm on Friday.

He was released on police bail on Sunday.

Azmin has issued a statement denying Haziq’s allegation, describing it as “vicious libel”.

He said he has instructed his lawyers to take action against Haziq and other perpetrators.

Azmin’s political secretary, Muhammad Hilman Idham, has lodged two police reports over the matter.

Yesterday, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Mazlan Mansor said the force has recorded 21 statements in connection with the probe into the sex video.

He said 17 reports have been lodged over the video, which has gone viral since it was first shared via WhatsApp last Tuesday.

Police have established a special team, comprising the force’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and forensic unit, and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, to investigate the case.

The team is headed by federal CID chief Huzir Mohamed.

On Sunday, Huzir said investigations will be conducted under Sections 292 (sale of obscene materials), 504 (intent to provoke, to breach the peace) and 377B (carnal intercourse against nature) of the Penal Code, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act. – June 18, 2019.