KUALA LUMPUR: An in-depth investigation should be made into allegations that the intelligence agency within the Prime Minister’s Department had written to the Central Intelligence Agency while Barisan Nasional was running the country.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said such a letter being circulated touches on the nation’s sovereignty.
He said among questions being raised now was whether the letter, said to have been sent to garner support from the United States for BN in the run-up to the 14th general election (GE14), had also been sent to other countries.
“This letter seems to have been an attempt to ask for foreign intervention in the nation’s affairs. How could this letter be sent out, on whose orders and can an officer (in the agency) write such a letter without the directive of his superiors?”
Speaking to reporters at the lobby of Parliament, Lim said if the letter was genuine, then it showed the “true colours” of BN, which had prior to GE14 constantly accused Pakatan Harapan of always seeking foreign intervention.
Allegations of a letter to the CIA, purportedly from the Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO), an intelligence agency within the PM’s Department operating under the official name of the Research Division, have gone viral recently.
Said to have been dated May 4, the three-page letter was purportedly signed by Research Division director-general Datuk Hasanah Ab Hamid and addressed to CIA director Gina Haspel.
It was alleged that the letter had asked for the US to continue supporting Datuk Seri Najib Razak, besides portraying the then prime minister as someone who was progressive and a friend to America.
Najib has since denied directing MEIO to send the letter, nor knowing anything about it, adding that the organisation had complete autonomy to carry out its duties.