Police report lodged against Nurul Izzah, PKR over party's 2016 Washington project

Police have been urged to investigate a claim that PKR leaders collaborated with a foreign consultant in 2016 to persuade the US government to exert political pressure on the Malaysian government led by then prime minister Najib Razak.

The report, lodged by Bersatu's Youth wing Armada alongside several activists, including prominent corruption whistleblower Albert Tei, is based on a recent article by MalaysiaNow which revealed the contents of an email exchange involving senior PKR leaders and a Washington-based lobbyist hired by the party to engage with then President Barack Obama's administration.

In his report, Armada representative Muhammad Alif Abdullah referred to the email exchange between PKR leaders and Jared Genser, an American lawyer who runs Perseus Strategies, a Washington-based law firm and political consultancy whose former clients include Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

"Their objective includes seeking the help of the White House and the US Congress to apply pressure on the Malaysian government. I take this very seriously as the US government is the main supporter of Zionist Israel," he said, naming Anwar's daughter Nurul Izzah and Sivarasa Rasiah among the PKR leaders involved in a campaign to undermine the Malaysian government.

It comes amid a debate over double standards by authorities who recently launched an investigation against the family of the late Daim Zainuddin over claims of an alleged conspiracy to overthrow the government.

Last week, police announced a probe under a draconian law related to "toppling the government" against Daim’s widow Na'imah Khalid, after a former journalist whom she dismissed from her communications team claimed that a recent exposé by Bloomberg on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) alleged ties with a "corporate mafia" could be part of her plan to overthrow Anwar’s government.

Na'imah has since rubbished the allegation.

In the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday, Anwar, when questioned about MalaysiaNow's report on his party leaders' email exchange in 2016, made a stunning accusation that a prominent Zionist and "bankers" were involved in a plot to overthrow his government, claims which were dismissed as preposterous by Na'imah's lawyers.

In his police report today, Alif referred to a request in the email from Genser to Nurul Izzah to provide him with a list of statements by Najib "pressing Malay ethno-centric views, race hatred, and ultra-conservative views of Islam".

"Nurul Izzah was to look for information and data to be handed over to the agent so that Malaysia could be accused of being an extremist country.

"That is why we invoke Act 124B and also 124C of the Penal Code regarding activities to undermine sovereignty and parliamentary democracy," he added, urging authorities to use the same draconian laws they have applied in their investigation against Na'imah.