MUKHRIZ USED SERVICES OF CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA, CLAIMS EX-PRESS SECRETARY

Company helped him in GE13 election campaign, says former press secretary

DATUK Seri Mukhriz Mahathir had used the services of data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica to help in the 13th General Election (GE13) campaign, said his former press secretary, Azrin Zizal.

He refuted claims from the former Kedah menteri besar that he never used the services of the analytics firm,

Azrin said he was willing to provide proof if Mukhriz continued to deny the truth.

It was reported that Mukhriz had denied using the services of data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica to help in the election campaign during GE13.

Azrin was SCL Southeast Asia head, which is a sister company of Cambridge Analytica.

In a statement yesterday, he said Mukhriz’s statement about Cambridge Analytica’s advice for the Kedah campaign in 2013 contained outright lies.

“Mukhriz said I was only his media officer until 2013 and that I was no longer with him when he became Kedah menteri besar, but this is absolutely false.

“I worked for Mukhriz personally and provided communications and strategy advice for him until 2015, including during GE13, and afterwards when he was menteri besar.

“While Mukhriz continues to deny my work for him and deny the benefits he gained from the advice I provided to him from Cambridge Analytica/SCL Group for Kedah during GE13, will he also deny Kedah winning an extra six parliamentary seats, winning over the state and him becoming menteri besar?” he asked.

Cambridge Analytica or SCL Group never worked for or was paid by BN or any part of the Malaysia government.

Azrin also refuted claims by Mukhriz that Cambridge Analytica had worked for Barisan Nasional.

“This is not true. Cambridge Analytica or SCL Group never worked for or was paid by BN or any part of the Malaysia government.

“The GE13 advice for Kedah was provided to Mukhriz personally. It is time for Mukhriz to stop deliberately distorting the facts to save himself, and come clean,” he added.

The Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday issued a statement stating that it had never engaged controversial data firm Cambridge Analytica for its services in GE13.

The statement said that a representative from Cambridge Analytica’s parent company SCL Group earlier confirmed that it had personally provided its advice to then-Kedah Umno chief and now Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) deputy president Mukhriz.

“Neither Cambridge Analytica nor its parent company SCL Group have ever — now or in the past — been contracted, employed or paid in any way by BN, the Prime Minister’s Office or any part of the Malaysian government,” the statement read.

“The SCL representative also confirmed that he reported directly to Mukhriz, not BN or the government,” it said.

The company’s website lists five office locations in New York, Washington DC, both in the United States, London in Britain, Brazil and Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Mukhriz in his Twitter account on Tuesday denied that he had any contact with Cambridge Analytica.

“I categorically deny any contact with @CamAnalytica at any time.

“Azrin was my media officer 2009-2013 at MITI ( International Trade and Industry Ministry).

“He was not employed by me as representative of SCL Group or Cambridge Analytica, and he was no longer my media officer when I became Kedah menteri besar,” he said.