PUTRAJAYA: PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil has criticised Bersatu Youth's police report against a news portal, accusing them of trying to deflect attention.
The report alleged that the portal edited and misrepresented Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's speech during the Nenggiri by-election campaign.
Fahmi who is also Communications Minister said that the move was an attempt by Bersatu to divert attention from ongoing controversies involving Muhyiddin, including those related to the royal institution.
"We acknowledge that during the previous Parliament closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there was also a royal decree from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong concerning Parliament's closure, which involved Muhyiddin at that time.
"This situation adds insult to injury for Bersatu. They've already faced defeat in the Nenggiri by-election and now, they are also facing a police investigation," he added during a press conference.
Yesterday, Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal filed a police report against an online news portal affiliated with a component party of the unity government, accusing the portal of editing and misrepresenting a speech by Muhyiddin during the Nenggiri by-election campaign trail.
He claimed that the video was misleadingly edited, causing public unrest and defaming the former prime minister
This comes after police received almost 30 reports lodged against Muhyiddin who allegedly touched on 3R (race, religion, royalty) topics while campaigning.
On Monday, Tengku Mahkota of Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah expressed his anger and disappointment and called for the police to take firm action against Muhyiddin.
In response, Muhyiddin defended his statements as factual and said it was not intended to insult the monarchy and does not contain seditious elements.