KUALA LUMPUR – Former Community Communications Department (J-Kom) director-general Datuk Mohammad Agus Yusoff has lodged a police report over a viral clip of a video call between him and another man, saying the supposedly lewd conversation between them had been edited.
He said this at a press conference tonight following his sudden resignation from the post yesterday.
Agus denied the supposed intimate conversation had happened and insisted it had been edited.
Instead, he and a J-Kom assistant officer, Abdul Wahab Abdul Kadir Jilani, 33, who joined the agency on November 1, had engaged in “normal” chit-chat, he said.
Wahab, who was at the press conference tonight, said the video call, which was made on WhatsApp, had been recorded to “frame” Agus.
Wahab admitted to being offered a higher position in the agency for doing so, and said he was asked to record the video call by one “Mr H” who is also in J-Kom.
Agus said he had filed a police report earlier this evening at the Kajang district police headquarters, while Wahab is considering police action within the next few days.
Both Agus and Wahab tonight admitted that the video call took place, with Agus stressing he could not remember what was said.
Wahab said he was at home during the call, while Agus said he was at a hotel, which he did not name.
Agus added that he would leave all follow-up actions to his lawyers, and will wait for whatever is decided by police for their investigations.
“I want justice and this to be investigated. I have instructed my lawyers to take necessary legal actions,” he told the press conference, which was held at the Tenera Hotel in Bandar Baru Bangi.
“The people will not forget this (incident), it has become history and has tarnished (my reputation).
“I wish to just move on with life, but you fight for what you think is right and is good for you,” he added.
Yesterday, a video depicting a man with Agus’ likeness engaging in an intimate conversation with another man went viral online.
The video prompted an executive council member of Wanita PKR, Rozy Razit, to call for an investigation, while also describing the leak as politically motivated and aimed at tarnishing the unity government.
Agus was appointed by the unity government as J-Kom director-general at the Prime Minister’s Office in February. The department was previously known as the Special Affairs Department before it was rebranded as J-Kom in 2020.
Agus tendered his resignation yesterday, saying he received an offer for a different job, and not due to any pressure.
Earlier today, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil confirmed the resignation, and that a new person for the post would be found soon. – November 17, 2023