The help of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has been sought to advise Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to immediately cancel the government’s contract with global public relations consultants Apco Worldwide and all other related contracts with links to Israelis agents.

Parliamentary Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim ( below ) said today he has written to the King seeking his help in this respect. "The letter was sent to the Agong this afternoon," he told reporters in Parliament.

Anwar said it was important to terminate the contract with Apco because its continuation would tarnish the country's image and compromise the country's security.

NONE He also disclosed a minute during a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting on Aug 11 last year in which PAC chairperson Azmi Khalid admitted that Israel potentially had access to sensitive national information.

During the PAC meeting to discuss the performance of Khazanah Nasional, it was recorded that Azmi had voiced out his fears that classified Malaysian information could be accessed by foreign parties. Below is the edited excerpt of the minute as provided by Anwar:

‘Chairperson: Ha! Perolehan baru ini melibatkan (This new acquisition involves) Israel. It's very scary, you know, because people have accessed to all our information.

Israel is working together dengan (with) US, they are implementing security systems because they want to know about everyone else around the world.’

Anwar urged the police to continue their investigations into the Apco debacle in light of this latest disclosure. "I do not see any way that Umno can get out of this Apco mess," he added.

The Apco issue exploded on March 30 when Anwar produced two documents in Parliament to back up his allegations of the links between Apco, the Israeli government and the ‘1Malaysia’ concept.

‘Strong Zionist links’

One of the documents was the agreement signed between Apco and the Malaysian government, which was witnessed by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's press secretary Tengku Sharifuddin Tengku Ahmad.

The presence of Tengku Sharifuddin, Anwar had said, underscored the importance of Apco to the Najib government as normal contracts are signed by government officers.

The other document was the deal inked between Apco and the Israeli government when Ehud Barak - who later as premier adopted the ‘One Israel’ slogan - was the head of the Israeli military.

Anwar claimed that the agreement was positive proof of links between Apco and Israel. The opposition leader also pointed out to the slew of ex-Israeli government officials which made up Apco's list of executives and consultants.

azlan Chief among them being Doron Bergerbest-Eilon, who heads the Israeli Security Agency, Itamar Rabinovichk, who was formerly with Israeli's internal intelligence organ Shin Bet, and Shimon Stein, a former Israeli ambassador to Germany.

Anwar argues that Najib had put the country at risk because Apco has strong Zionist links. Both the government and Apco had denied this.

On Tuesday, also in Parliament, Anwar claimed that Israeli military intelligence agents had once been present in the communications server room at the Bukit Aman police headquarters.

"Two officers from the company (Asiasoft), were in the Bukit Aman server room around the clock, on the 2nd and 3rd floor, that's the contract."

He said the agents were working in the guise of employees of Asiasoft Malaysia, a company engaged by local firm Masterplan Consulting Sdn Bhd to upgrade the police communication systems.

Possible suspension

Following the disturbing revelations, the government is now trying to censure Anwar for misleading the House and for insinuating that Najib's '1Malaysia' concept had its roots in the 'One Israel' initiative.

Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia yesterday confirmed that the motion to refer Anwar to the Rights and Privileges Committee will be tabled on April 22. Anwar could face a possible suspension from Parliament.

NONE On Monday, PAS submitted a memorandum seeking royal intervention in terminating the government's contract with the international public relations firm.

PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa submitted the memorandum signed by its president Abdul Hadi Awang and all PAS MPs, to an officer to the Keeper of the Rulers Council in Kuala Lumpur ( pix, above ).

"We the PAS MPs sincerely hope for intervention from the rulers to revoke the contract between Apco and the government, for the security of the country and its people," read the five-page document.

"This will prevent negative perceptions about Malaysia in the eyes of the world especially among Muslim nations."

VIDEO l 3.39 min