KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian police are seeking the ex-boyfriend of opposition politician Elizabeth Wong after photos of her in the nude were circulated.

He has been identified as Hilmi Malek, 32, who worked as a personal assistant to Malaysian lawmaker Hee Loy Sian for nine months after last year's March general election.

Like Wong, Hee is also from the opposition party Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said they had received two nude photographs, and a CD, of the 37-year-old Wong from a Malay Mail journalist.

The photos, which have been circulating since last week, reportedly show Wong partially covered by a sarong. It is not known how the private snaps ended up in public circulation.

Police have recorded statements from four journalists from the Malay Mail and Sun, reportedly the first two newspapers to have received the photos.

They also recorded Wong's statement on Tuesday (17 Feb), after she offered to resign from her Selangor executive councillor and assemblyman posts. PKR has not yet accepted her resignation. She is now on leave.

According to the Malay Mail, Hilmi has been missing since last Saturday (14 Feb), with unconfirmed reports saying he has left the country. The paper quoted Hilmi's colleagues as saying they were aware of his relationship with Wong and that the latter had revealed that they had split up recently.

Prominent blogger and opposition MP Jeff Ooi wrote on his blog that this would be the second time a politician's aide was involved in such a scandal, and suggested they were 'trojan horses'. He cited the earlier example of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan, who had accused Anwar of having sodomised him.

"I believe there is a dire need for all Pakatan Rakyat leaders and elected representatives to beware of trojan horses in our earnest deeds to recruit new blood and party cadres," he wrote.

For now, it appears that Miss Wong could continue as assemblyman.

PKR insiders said she may relinquish her executive council position in the Selangor government, but public support could enable her to keep her state seat, the Malaysian Insider news website reported.

Selangor chief minister Khalid Ibrahim has said he is open to the idea, but added he would seek the advice of the Selangor sultan and discuss the matter with the state executive council. (The Straits Times/ ANN)