Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has threatened to file a defamation suit against blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin.
This is over the latter’s blog post claiming Zahid received a RM67 million bribe over the troubled littoral combat ship (LCS) project.
“Before making an accusation, he should have evidence or documents to back his claims.
“If not, I will file a defamation suit against him and I will ask my lawyers to take legal action against him,” Zahid told a press conference at his residence in Bagan Datuk, Perak yesterday.
He said much of Raja Petra’s writings are merely his own speculation.
“Previously he claimed there is a letter of undertaking or statutory declaration with a BN letterhead where BN parliamentarians or candidates signed it saying they support me to become prime minister.
“The letter is fake. It shows Raja Petra has no credibility.
“So, I agree that the MACC should investigate (Raja Petra) who has no basis nor credibility to make such accusations,” he said.
The Bagan Datuk incumbent MP said this when asked to comment on Raja Petra’s allegation linking him to the LCS scandal.
Raja Petra claimed that Zahid, in his capacity as deputy prime minister at the time, received bribes in eight payments from contractors for the LCS project between 2012 and 2013.
He alleged the transactions were facilitated by money changers in Singapore and Malaysia.
MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the commission will meet Raja Petra before deciding whether Zahid should be called in for questioning regarding the LCS contracts.
The commission will also need time to study documents it had obtained, he said.
The MACC team tasked to meet Raja Petra – who is believed to be in England – will meet the blogger in a mutually agreed foreign country.
Azam said the time and place for the meeting have yet to be determined, but it will not necessarily be in the UK.
This will be part of the MACC’s ongoing investigation of the LCS project.
The MACC was already investigating the LCS scandal under Section 17 of the MACC Act for graft, and Section 405 of the Penal Code for breach of trust. – Malaysiakini