Police wrap up probe into CIA letter

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have completed their investigation into the issue of a letter allegedly sent by former Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation Malaysia (MEIO) director-general Datuk Hasanah Abdul Hamid to the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the investigation papers (IP) would be sent to the deputy public prosecutor (DPP) soon.

“We have completed the IP. Maybe today (yesterday) or tomorrow, we will send it to the DPP. We will await further instructions from the DPP.”

He declined to comment on whether the person accused of distributing the letter had been detained.

Hasanah reportedly signed the three-page letter, dated May 4, addressed to CIA director Gina Haspel, who was then deputy director.

In the letter, MEIO, operating under the Prime Minister’s Department’s Research Department, was alleged to have asked the US to support the administration of then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should Barisan Nasional obtain a simple win or a win by just one seat in the 14th General Election.

The organisation had depicted Najib as a progressive and USfriendly leader in the letter, and that he would continue to support US presence in this region.

The letter said without the presence of Najib as the leader of Malaysia, the organisation hinted that the US could potentially lose a trusted ally in Southeast Asia, in light of the Philippines cutting ties with the superpower.

It said Singapore and Brunei were too small to make an impact, while Thailand and Indonesia were busy with domestic issues.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who, at the time, was leading the opposition coalition, was painted as an anti-West, antiJewish and autocratic leader, and one who harshly silences his critics.

Hasanah lodged a report over the issue on Tuesday.