“I also have it (TCO). All VIPs do,” Berita Harian reported him as saying to reporters after a programme at International Islamic University Malaysia.

Anwar was responding to Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who yesterday asked why he had been flagged as a person of risk in the country’s border control system.

He claimed that all of his movements were under “complete, stealthy and continuous surveillance” under the TCO designation.

“Where I go, who I meet, and whatever I talk about with any individual is apparently all of interest to certain people and thus needs to be reported by a specific branch to the political master or the main operator.

“This is my day-to-day reality, even if I’m only going to Sabah or Sarawak.

“With the advances in technology today, they probably try to pry into conversations I have with certain individuals, especially political leaders,” he said.

Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail later played down Samsuri’s complaints, saying there was no need to spy on him given his security detail as menteri besar.

“As the menteri besar, he is chaperoned by police officers for safety purposes at all times. There is no need to spy on him as the police are always with him,” he said.

Saifuddin also said that he was personally listed for surveillance from 2000 to 2004, and considered it part of the authorities’ duty in carrying out their responsibilities.

He said all “VVIPs” in the country were constantly under surveillance for security reasons, and that Samsuri was no exception.

“While other VVIPs understand the situation, Samsuri is choosing to make it an issue,” he said.