'Leaked information' will hinder police probe, says minister

The police should be given room to carry out their investigations without undue influences that could compromise their objectivity, said Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail today.

Responding to purported leaked police documents claimed to be related to the murder investigation against the parents of autistic boy Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin, Saifuddin said the act would hinder ongoing investigations.

“Whatever happens, we must be guided by an authoritative source. That means, guarantees given by the police, from the inspector-general of police and criminal investigation department chief,” Saifuddin told reporters at the police training centre in Kuala Lumpur.

"In this case, give room to the police. If there are what was said to be ‘leaked information’ or others, it will change or create public sentiment, and that certainly hinders police investigation,” he said.

Saifuddin noted that police involved in the ongoing investigations are subjected to not only a high level of public pressure but also media reports on the purported leaks that had sparked more speculations and comments.

“The police cannot be placed in such a situation. For the time being, they are focused on carrying out their duties professionally,” he said.

Asked whether there will be an investigation into the purported leaks, Saifuddin said the police will have a procedure to handle such matters.

“Police have their procedure if they need to investigate the leak. They have their ways to find out so let them carry out their duty,” he said.

Working with MCMC

Earlier today, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said federal police will work with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to investigate the alleged leaked information.

Berita Harian reported Shuhaily as saying that the police would contact MCMC to remove the content, first detected on the Edisi Siasat Telegram account yesterday, and prevent it from being spread on other platforms.

Edisi Siasat had leaked a purported police investigation diary in the case against Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf, less than 24 hours after the couple was charged with negligence which potentially caused physical injury to their child.

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