THE Communications and Multimedia Ministry will launch an investigation into an audio clip of a phone conversation allegedly between Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Malacca’s Sg Udang assemblyman Idris Haron, Deputy Minister Zahidi Zainul Abidin said.

The Padang Besar MP expressed his disappointment over the leak of the audio, claiming several irresponsible people were doing it to tarnish the reputation of politicians.

“The Umno Supreme Council members are disappointed by the actions of these irresponsible people who like to record phone conversations, which are supposed to be a private matter.

“We will need to investigate so that it does not repeat in the future.

“Similar incidents have happened to Najib Razak, Anwar Ibrahim, (Ahmad) Zahid Hamidi, and now the prime minister himself.

“This is embarrassing,” he told reporters at the Umno headquarters today.

Zahidi also said that the ministry would investigate telecommunication companies if they are involved in recording their customers’ conversations.

In the audio clip, a voice said to be Ismail’s was heard discussing Idris’ plan to pull support for the Malacca government led by Sulaiman Md Ali.

The voice was heard saying that he had come under pressure to form a unity government with the opposition, and appealed to Idris to call off his decision.

However, the voice purportedly Idris’ refused to budge, claiming it was impossible to work with the chief minister.

Zahidi said there was no need for a police report to be lodged on the matter as doing so would complicate things.

“We will investigate this matter but there is no need for a police report to be lodged as it would complicate matters.

“This has become a trend and it is not good as this is an invasion of privacy. My ministry is responsible for this matter.

“It is impossible that the prime minister was the one who recorded the conversation. This is the doing of others and they are using this as a political campaign as the election looms,” he said. – October 14, 2021.