Azmin: Wan Saiful wallowing in slander by reviving old scandal

Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali has denied party supreme council member Wan Saiful Wan Jan’s claims regarding a 2019 video scandal involving the former.

Azmin claimed that Wan Saiful failed to rely on facts when issuing the allegations, adding that the Tasek Gelugor MP was wallowing in slander by resurrecting the accusations against him.

“They live with slander. We rely on knowledge and facts. Calmly move forward. Struggles will definitely have challenges. Serve sincerely and honestly, no matter where,” he told Utusan Malaysia.

On Monday, Wan Saiful and several other Bersatu leaders held a press conference to address allegations that they were trying to force Muhyiddin Yassin into handing over the party leadership to deputy president Hamzah Zainudin.

During the press conference, Wan Saiful raised allegations that Azmin and Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz committed misconduct.

He also said that his relationship with Azmin had been “hot and cold” since last year, allegedly due to information that an intimate video implicating the then-minister was authentic.

In 2019, Azmin categorically denied what he described as “vicious libel” against him by Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz, the other person who claimed to be in the video.

Fresh allegations

Wan Saiful further launched fresh allegations against Azmin, claiming that the skewed narrative of attempts to topple Muhyiddin originated from the former Gombak MP.

In response, 10 Selangor assemblypersons came to Azmin's defence, claiming that the offensive aimed at the party leader was only an attempt to deflect attention from Wan Saiful's failed efforts to bring down Muhyiddin through a move to collect statutory declarations (SDs).

They further condemned Wan Saiful, who is on trial over corruption-related charges.

In a separate statement, two Pahang assemblypersons from Bersatu urged the party's disciplinary body to take action against Wan Saiful and other leaders involved in the press conference.

Similarly, Perak Bersatu division chiefs yesterday issued a joint statement rebuking Wan Saiful and the other leaders involved, urging the party to take swift disciplinary action.

Earlier that day, the Bersatu disciplinary board said it would convene a proceeding “soon” and vowed to take stern action, including immediate expulsion, against members found guilty of breaching party discipline and tarnishing its image.

While the board did not disclose the names of leaders to be summoned, it had last week postponed a scheduled hearing against Wan Saiful over allegations that he was collecting SDs to push for Muhyiddin's resignation.

Perak Bersatu division chiefs join call for action against Wan Saiful

Bersatu disciplinary board to meet soon, vows stern action on errant members

'Disgusting slander': S'gor Bersatu reps condemn Wan Saiful for attack on Azmin

Johor Bersatu urges disciplinary action against Wan Saiful

Wan Saiful denies alleged move to topple Muhyiddin

Wan Saiful takes aim at Azmin, revives spectre of Sandakan video