PKR president Anwar Ibrahim today spent about 90 minutes in Bukit Aman giving his statement over an alleged telephone conversation between him and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Speaking to reporters after giving his statement, Anwar said he was called in as a witness for an investigation under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code, which involves making statements likely to cause fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public, to commit an offence against the state or against public tranquility.

“I cooperated with the police. My statement was taken as a witness statement.

“I told them that if there is to be a prosecution, I will give my complete statement,” he told reporters outside Bukit Aman.

Earlier, the Port Dickson MP had arrived at Bukit Aman at 9.50am with his lawyers, Sankara Nair and Ramarpal Singh. They exited at 11.23am.

Anwar, who is also the opposition leader, said he also raised several issues, including why the police wanted to make the case a political issue.

“The government looks desperate now. What is the link between this audio clip and the current economic situation, political instability and abuse of power?

“I also told them about the audio clip, which has gone viral on social media, sounds like (Prime Minister) Muhyiddin Yassin… on the scheme of things, on threats, bribery, gratification and GLC appointment (in return for political support),” he said.

He also said that the police should investigate those who leaked such audio clip.

The audio clip, leaked just days after the Umno annual general assembly on March 28, supposedly carried a conversation between Zahid and Anwar who were discussing the outcome of the assembly, at which Umno severed ties with Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional, and had pledged not to work with DAP and Anwar.

Zahid dismissed the audio clip as fake, adding that it was a disgusting political gambit released by people wanting to “undermine and destroy Umno”.

Anwar had also refuted any part in the clip, but caused more controversy by defending the content.

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

“There is nothing wrong with the audio,” he had said. – April 27, 2021.