Confusion over reason for postponement with police, says Hadi’s political secretary

KUALA LUMPUR: There was confusion over the postponement of the recording of Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang’s statement by the police, says his political secretary Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman.

The Bachok MP said that the PAS president was not ill at the time, but had to undergo medical treatment in the morning.

“There has been some confusion on the matter. Abdul Hadi was receiving treatment on the morning of Sept 2 at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital in Kuala Terrenganu and this led to a delay in reaching Kuala Lumpur to have his statement recorded,” he said.

“Due to that, I have informed the police that it would take three to four hours and if it hadn’t been for that this would have been settled on that day itself,” added Mohd Syahir, who said that Abdul Hadi is not avoiding the police.

He said when met at the PAS headquarters on Monday (Sept 4) that Abdul Hadi was being treated with antibiotics at the time and added that the treatment was unscheduled.

Mohd Syahir then said that the police could verify the matter with the hospital and added that he told the police of this at 8am on the day itself.

“The appointment was then missed and I’ve contacted the police at 8am, with the police agreeing to the new date which is today,” he said.

On the photo of Abdul Hadi meeting with other Perikatan Nasional leaders on the same day, he said that that meeting was already part of the original schedule for the day.

At around 12:45pm, the Bukit Aman officer that came to record the statement was seen leaving the party headquarters

Mohd Syahir said that the statement recording process was a smooth affair.

He added that Abdul Hadi would cooperate with the police should a second round of statement taking was needed.

The probe is related to his speech during the Ceramah Perdana Perikatan Nasional in Bakri, Muar, on Aug 26, in which he had allegedly questioned the authority of the Pardons Board.

Police are also investigating the case under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for misuse of network facilities.