I HAVE known PKR Perak chairman Farhash Wafa Salvador for more than 15 years.

Despite certain media’s attempt to caricaturise him following the recent gay sex scandal, Farhash is deep down, a man of deep convictions and stands steadfastly by principles.

I was one of those who had received Farhash after his eight-day detention by the police.

He was treated like a hero and he truly deserved it.

In public, as well as in private, Farhash recounted his unnecessary ordeal, while being remanded for a crime in which he had no part.

Be that as it may, I am perplexed how and why Farhash’s allegations about the deletion of the CCTV recordings from the Four Points Hotel in Sandakan, have been met with deafening silence from the cops.

He was informed of this by one of the police officers in the course of his eight-day prolonged interrogation.

If what was relayed by the policeman to Farhash was true, then this is a travesty of justice because the recording is a piece of key evidence in the ongoing but mysteriously long police investigation.

You can’t help but construe the police’s continued silence as an admission of guilt.

Contrast this with the police’s swift reaction to MCA Wanita head Heng Seai Kie’s recent allegations that the forensic report on the rape case involving a Perak exco member has gone missing.

The IGP no less publicly denied Heng’s claims and the cops are calling her in for questioning.

If the cops can act so swiftly in Heng’s case when the allegations involved only a state exco member, why can’t the police show similar urgency on Farhash’s allegations when the latter case involved the economic affairs minister?

Was there truth in Farhash’s allegations? Were key items of evidence in the sex video case destroyed? I hope not.

As a long-time friend of Farhash, his courage in revealing the allegation – knowing the risks involved – typifies his character.

This strong-willed man, who calls a spade a spade, is one reason why he is the Perak PKR chief and is regarded as a rising star in the party.

Farhash is no hanger-on, unlike the coterie of opportunists you always find around politicians these days.

This is unlike a political secretary to a senior minister from PKR, who despite publicly hanging on to his boss’s coattail, privately displays shifting allegiances given the cabinet member’s precarious position.

Farhash is a man who does not waver easily.

This was why he decided to highlight the missing CCTV recording, of which the cops had remained silent despite the gravity of the allegations.

Hussin Bakar, PKR Perak ordinary member

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.