The author of a manuscript for a book detailing why Anwar Ibrahim is unfit to be the prime minister has denied the claim he attempted to extort the PKR president when he tried negotiating for a higher price than what he was offered by parties interesting in publishing the book.
Author Yahaya Ismail today denied blackmailing Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul over a book disparaging PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim, saying he merely offered to let Anwar and Johari have the chance to purchase the manuscript’s copyright.
He said attempting to extort the PM-in-waiting would have been the “work of a stupid person”.
“I gave Anwar and Johari a copy to read, and if they want, to buy the copyright. This is normally done in the publishing business.
“[…]I was surprised when Anwar said I was attempting to extort him to pay RM400,000. The price is based on the value of my copyright. If he (Anwar) is not interested, he need not buy. There is no coercion as the copyright is mine.
“If I publish the book and Anwar or Johari later say I defamed (Anwar), they can sue. So, what is the problem?” Yahaya said in a Facebook post early this morning.
According to Yahaya, he had contacted Johari on June 4 to see if he was interested to buy the manuscript, and had posted it on June 10.
Yahaya posted what he claimed were WhatsApp text exchanges with Johari, who acted as a go-between between the former and Anwar.
On June 15, Yahaya told Johari that another group was interested in buying the copyright to the book titled Mengapa Anwar Tak Boleh Jadi PM (Why Anwar Ibrahim Cannot Be PM for printing.
Yahaya claimed Johari had asked him how much the copyright would cost, to which he said the “other group” was offering RM400,000. If Anwar could offer more, he said, he would accept it.
In the exchange, Yahaya allegedly informed Johari that a “group” was meeting him on June 16 to make an offer to purchase the copyright.
One purported text by Yahaya said: “I hope YB (Johari) will discuss with Pak Sheikh (Anwar) quickly if he is interested in buying the copyright. If his offer is higher than this group’s, we have a deal, YB. Please act fast YB.”
To which a text purportedly replied: “I am meeting DS Anwar Ibrahim at about 11.20pm tonite. Just to be sure what I will be saying is right, let me get your confirmation what the offer is. You are ready to take RM400,000 or more from him (Anwar), and you will not print the draft book as sent to me. If he fails to settle the asked figure, you will talk to other party and the book maybe printed.
“I just want to show him the figure. If not, he might say I may have a cut too.”
The response from Yahaya read: “This is right YB, The amount is right, The other party will buy copyright too. They will print as many as they like. It becomes theirs.”
Yahaya claimed Johari then said he would meet with Anwar to discuss the matter and explain Yahaya’s offer.
But, Yahaya said, he never received a response.
“Read my WhatsApp to YB Johari. I wanted to sell my copyright to Anwar and other interested groups.
“The issue of blackmail does not arise at all. Please understand and do not lie to the people.”
A purported text by Yahaya to Johari said: “For your info YB, I did help Pak Sheikh before in 1993 when he contested against Ghafar Baba and another time when he contested in Permatang Pauh. Both times I wrote books and campaigned for him.
“Unfortunately, I was not given what I was promised. I hope Pak Sheikh will consider me favourably this time. He is facing the biggest challenge now. Hope YB you can convince him to buy the copyright. Tq YB, salam.”
Johari, who is also Kedah PKR Leadership Council chairperson, claimed Yahaya contacted him, trying to negotiate for Anwar to pay a higher price than the RM400,000 others were offering to publish the book.
“It is time for the public to know who this cheap writer is, who has been paid. He tried to blackmail us to pay him RM400,000…Let the police investigate,” Johari had said.
Yesterday, Anwar said Johari has lodged a police report after Yahaya demanded money, calling it a “consultation fee”.
He alleged Yahaya was paid or hired to write the book and said he was leaving the matter to police to investigate.
Yahaya, however, denied he was paid to do so and insisted he authored the book on his own initiative.
“(The book) is a result of my own studies. I have written about politics over the last 40 years and published 50 political books.
“One of the books I published in 1993 is titled Anwar Ibrahim Antara Nawaitu and Boria Party.
“I criticised his leadership, and he has even invited me to his house to talk about politics for two hours.”
Yahaya, who claimed he has known Anwar since the 1970s, said he is not a member of any political party and wrote only for the truth.
“Anwar is my friend since the 70s, but I’m not in line with his politics, I’m not part of any political party. As a writer, I’m looking for the truth, and fighting for race, religion and country.”
Yahaya said that he would press ahead and publish the book on his own if no one wished to purchase the copyright.
Earlier report: Jun 19, Johari Abdul to Lodge Report over Book About Why Anwar Cannot Be PM