Anwar holds PM responsible for Sodomy II

Anwar holds PM responsible for Sodomy II

Anwar Ibrahim and wife Dr Wan Azizah at the press conference today. — picture by Choo Choy May

Click here for Anwar's press statement

By Wan Hamidi Hamid

PETALING JAYA, Aug 6 – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today accused Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of being personally responsible for bringing up the charge of sodomy against him.

"I hold the prime minister personally responsible for the damage that is about to be done to the nation and to the integrity and dignity of the Malays.

"I have thus far constrained my criticism of the prime minister to his failed policies and general incompetence in leading the nation.

"But now it is clear that his vendetta against those who would seek his early dismissal from office knows no boundaries and will transgress all limits of the rule of law," he told a packed press conference at the Parti Keadilan Rakyat headquarters here this afternoon.

Police have summoned Anwar to appear at the Jalan Duta in Kuala Lumpur courts tomorrow morning in relation to fresh sodomy accusations made by his former male aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan late June.

The PKR de facto leader claimed that Abdullah was facing a crisis of confidence as his approval ratings had plummeted since the March 8 general election as well as members of his Barisan Nasional had left the coalition to join the opposition.

"This is a man under siege. He sees no way out but to deflect the attention of the Malaysian people with a sham trial against me. He is now burning the forest to save his own tree," he added.

On his court case tomorrow, Anwar said he wwas to be charged with a crime he did not commit.

"The real criminals will, in their efforts to humiliate me and to derail the people's aspirations for transformational change in Malaysia, hide behind a smokescreen created by the government-controlled mainstream media."

The former deputy prime minister claimed that he had been informed that the Attorney-General's chambers had advised against charging him after studying the investigation papers.

However, despite its views, Anwar claimed that some individuals within the police had insisted on pursuing the case even though the legal professionals in the A-G's chambers took a different view.

"The evidence proves that the accuser lied in his initial report. He has been seen to be working in close collaboration with the police, notably his meeting with SAC2 Rodwan Mohd Yusof who was working hand in hand with (Inspector-General of Police) Tan Sri Musa Hassan to conspire against me in 1998.

"Other witnesses in this case have been threatened and harassed in order to fabricate evidence.

Doctors appear to have been pressure to violate all norms of medical ethics.

"Senior ministers, in their comments about the case, have demonstrated their consistent interference in the investigation," he claimed.

He also alleged that some individuals within the prime minister's close circles were adamant about pursuing the case; accusing that their "involvement" undermined the credibility of the case and proved that the entire conspiracy against him was politically motivated.

Despite the odds against him, Anwar is looking forward to the Permatang Pauh by-election after his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail vacated the parliamentary seat to make way for him to contest.

The Election Commission has fixed Aug 26 for polling day and Aug 16 for nominations.

"Whether bail for me tomorrow is denied or not, the campaign for Permatang Pauh will continue.

My sarong and songkok can even appear on my behalf at the constituency," said Anwar of the PKR's stronghold in mainland Penang.

He insisted that the courts had no reason to deny him bail unless it was meant to be part of the political ploy to deny his right to contest the election.

"Manoharan won while he was under detention. Of course I don't want to pre-empt that," he said, referring to DAP's M. Manoharan who won the Kota Alam Shah state seat despite still being detained under the Internal Security Act for his involvement with the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

When asked of possible street demonstrations if he were to be denied bail tomorrow, Anwar said he should not have been charged in the first place, and added that sanity would prevail and rule of law respected.

"Until today I've not seen the police report dated June 28 (by accuser Saiful) and the medical report. Where is sanity and rule of law?" he added.

DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang said the Sodomy II charge would be a sad and black day for Malaysia as it would be a clear and unmistakable signal that Malaysia had not dissociated from its recent dark past.

"If Anwar is denied bail, the very morality and legitimacy of the Abdullah premiership will come under question, nationally and internationally – which will be a very sad end for a prime minister who had started his administration with such high hopes and great mandate from ordinary Malaysians less than five years ago!" he said.

He added that Sodomy II trial, like its predecessor a decade ago, was not just about Anwar as the nation and its future would be on trial.

"Are we a nation which deserves international trust and respect for our high and unquestioned regard for the rule of law and a judiciary of independence, impartiality, integrity and meritocracy?

"Are we a nation where investors can safely place their investments because we are a nation of laws and not of men?"

kzs0 - anwar shouldn't worry if he is innocent. just mubahalah if you have not sodomise saiful.