Cops to quiz youth over alleged sale of names to Save Malaysia

(MMO) – The police will summon for questioning a self-professed IT freelancer who last week claimed he was paid to provide names for the Citizens’ Declaration petition.

According to Malaysiakini, deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIGP) Datuk Seri Noor Rashid Ibrahim said the youth, 30-year-old Azharuddin Othman, will be called in soon to explain his claim.

“We will call in the individual in two or three days to assist with investigations regarding his claims and get detailed information on it soon,” the DIGP was quoted as saying by the online news portal.

Azharuddin claimed last Thursday that he was offered RM5,000 to provide 1.2 million names for the Citizens’ Declaration petition that calls for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s resignation, but allegedly received only RM1,000.

He claimed to have passed along the data to one Syarul Ema Rena Abu Samah, a woman known as “Ratu Naga”.

Malaysiakini reported recently, however, that Syarul has denied knowing Azharuddin.

The Save Malaysia group comprising politicians from the ruling coalition, opposition and non-partisan activists claimed three weeks ago that it had collected 1.271 million signatures – 1.07 million done online and another 200,000 signatures on printed forms – for the Citizens’ Declaration petition.

Earlier today, Save Malaysia secretary Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar insisted that the 1.27 million signatures were genuine, pointing out that the movement had rejected 253,505 dubious signatories.

He also denied that the non-partisan movement led by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had any dealings with Azharuddin or with Syarul.