THE National Patriots Association (Patriot) today said it has received incriminating WhatsApp messages on the role played by the office of the director of military intelligence (DMI) in the run-up to the 14th general election.

Patriot president brig-gen (rtd) Mohamed Arshad Raji said the messages alleged that the DMI had played into the hands of Barisan Nasional politicians to drum up voter support so that BN candidates won.

“If the allegations are true, we urge the DMI to resign honourably, as he has compromised himself as the sole military intelligence authority tasked with protecting and defending the nation against all possible military threats.”

He did not mention names, but the current DMI is Abdul Hadi Hussin.

Arshad said the DMI and other military officers had deliberately used some offices within the Defence Ministry complex as an operations centre for political activities in support of the then BN government.

“(The messages claim) that he had authorised the employment of the Cyber Defence Operation Centre for the monitoring of phone calls, social media, Facebook and emails deemed to be in opposition to the then BN government.

“That he and some other military officers, in the early hours of May 10, were involved in moving huge amounts of money, believed to be leftover cash meant for use in the elections, to an undisclosed location.”

He said the DMI had also ordered that files relating to his department’s past political activities be destroyed.

“He ordered covert propaganda activities to be carried out, to discredit opposition parties and politicians in the run-up to GE14.

“These allegations, if proven true, are serious breaches of the roles and responsibilities of the DMI.

“Our knowledge and understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the department tells us that military intelligence has no business being involved in the nation’s political activities.

“Military commanders should be able to distinguish between what is official and what is political in their dealings with politicians.”

Arshad said Patriot has information that several army commanders had allowed politicians into their camps to campaign, and asked the Pakatan Harapan government to take action.

“Some even allowed BN politicians to come into their camps to campaign.

“These commanders don’t deserve to remain in military service.” – May 30, 2018.