Hasanah Ab Hamid was detained when she was called to the MACC headquarters today to help in the probe of the latest case of misappropriation of election funds.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested Hasanah Ab Hamid, the former intelligence head who wrote a controversial letter to the CIA before the general election seeking US support for the Barisan Nasional government, FMT has learnt.
It is understood that Hasanah, who headed a unit called the Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO), an intelligence unit under the Prime Minister’s Department during the previous administration, will be brought before the Magistrate’s Court in Putrajaya tomorrow.
Last May, Hasanah wrote a letter to Gina Haspel, the director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, seeking Washington’s support for the Najib Razak administration at the height of the general election campaign.
The letter among others said the then prime minister was better for US-Malaysia ties compared to Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who the letter referred to as anti-semite and anti-West.
Najib has distanced himself from the letter.
Hasanah has since said the letter was considered a state secret and urged police to investigate those behind the leak.
Several Pakatan Harapan leaders have however accused Hasanah of committing treason.
Earlier this month, Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said police had questioned several MEIO officers, including those stationed in Washington, as part of investigations into the leak. – FMT