ANWAR Ibrahim today said that there was nothing wrong with the conversation in a leaked audio recording, purportedly between him and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Although the PKR president earlier denied the clip’s authenticity, he said today that the contents of the conversation had no criminal elements.

“What is wrong with the conversation, if it is true. Is there any criminal element or is it wrong?” Anwar said in an online forum organised by Majlis Professor Negara.

“There is nothing wrong with the audio,” he told Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Prof Dr Mohamad Agus Yusof, who was interviewing him.

Anwar also neither refuting nor admitting to being one of the voices in the recorded conversation.

The Port Dickson MP and Opposition Leader two days ago denied the clip.

However, he said he has yet to lodge a police report as he had just returned from his constituency.

Zahid has also denied the audio recording and said it was leaked to undermine Umno.

In the conversation, voices – supposedly of Zahid and Anwar – discussed the outcome of the recent Umno general assembly at which the party severed ties with Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional (PN).

Prior to the general assembly, Anwar revealed that he held exploratory talks with Umno leaders on possible cooperation with PKR in GE15, but stressed that nothing had been finalised.

However, during the assembly, Zahid affirmed Umno’s stand not to work with PKR, DAP or Bersatu.

The Umno president is now facing mounting calls for his resignation while the party is split between those wanting it to continue cooperating with Bersatu and PN, and those who don’t.

Anwar added today that the recording was released to sway the public’s attention from real issues such as the emergency proclamation and allegations of bribery surrounding the PN government.

“It is politically motivated and it was made to divert from real issues. Such as the suspension of parliament and corruption.

“Why there is no noise made when parliamentarians were bought to switch parties,” he said.

Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador has urged both Zahid and Anwar to lodge a report if they feel slandered because of the audio clip.

Police have received seven reports from various parties on the matter so far but none were made by the two political leaders or their representatives. – April 10, 2021.