Johor Umno target of fake police report, says source

(The Rakyat Post) – News of a doctored police report against Umno’s top leadership has led to speculation that certain parties are trying actively to disrupt the unity in Johor Umno.

The doctored police report, purportedly against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, has been making the rounds in cyberspace. It was later picked up by several news portals last weekend.

A source, familiar with affairs in the state Umno, said irresponsible people were involved in attempting to split the state party by arousing sentiments.

“We believe that there are some individuals who have taken advantage of Umno’s current political crisis to disrupt the relationship between the state and central leadership.

“At the same time, it is also seen as an attempt to drive a wedge between Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who is also the state Umno liaison committee chief, and the party’s central leader, who is Najib,” the source told The Rakyat Post yesterday.

The doctored police report was alleged to have been lodged by a Pasir Gudang Umno member against Najib on Friday.

In the report, police were urged to take action over the RM2.6 billion that was allegedly transferred into the personal bank account of Najib, who is also Umno president, as well as the claimed wrongdoings involving state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

The source said such action by irresponsible parties was to be expected owing to the deepening crisis and current sentiments prevailing in the party.

“There are bound to be individuals with their own agendas. This is part and parcel of politics,” said the source.

A check by The Rakyat Post revealed that the doctored police report, with the report number Seri Alam/006400/15, was related to a domestic violence case in Bandar Seri Alam near Pasir Gudang in June.

On closer inspection, the doctored police report showed signs of images overlapping, probably altered using photo editing software.

The complainant’s occupation was also questionable in the report as it was listed only as “Ahli Politik” (politician) in Bahasa Malaysia.

The complainant, identified as Abdul Rashed Jamaludin, is indeed an active Umno Pasir Gudang division member.

He is said to have lodged several police reports on behalf of his division in the past. but most were against Opposition parties.

Seri Alam police chief Superintendent Abdul Samad Salleh yesterday confirmed that the district police had not received any report lodged on the matter by the 33-year-old Pasir Gudang Umno member.

He said the report, that has since gone viral, was not an official report from the police.

Meanwhile, Johor Umno Youth chief Hahasrin Hashim said he was aware of the fake police report and expressed regret that there were parties that wanted to disrupt the unity among Umno members in Johor.

Hahasrin said the state Umno Youth leadership took a serious view of the matter.

“However, we (Johor Umno Youth) will not lodge any police report on the matter and will leave the decision to the state Umno leadership.”