Five days before the May 9 general election, the research division in the Prime Minister's Department, which is touted to be an intelligence unit, had penned a letter to CIA director Gina Haspel.

Acknowledging that the 14th national polls could be the most tightly contested ever in Malaysian history, the three-page letter sighted by Malaysiakini, however, said former premier Najib Abdul Razak was expected to “win the election adequately to form the next government”.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's administration confirmed the authenticity of the letter but declined to comment.

In an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini yesterday, Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, who claimed to be in the dark about the letter, said intelligence is supposed to be about ensuring the security of the country, and not elections.

Read the full story here: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/434979