PKR fears Anwar an assassination target - Malaysiakini.tv

PKR today said party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has received threats to his life and is currently holed up at the Turkish embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

According to PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali, the latest move to implicate Anwar in a sodomy charge lodged by an aide signaled a more serious effort by certain quarters to silence him for good.

Wan Azizah Denies Sodomy Claim Against Anwar - Bernama

SHAH ALAM, June 29 (Bernama) -- Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim failed to turn up at a press conference to answer a sodomy allegation here Sunday but instead his wife Datin Seri Wan Azizah showed up to defend him, citing that it was a political conspiracy.

Wan Azizah, who is also PKR president, denied that her husband had sodomised his personal assistant.

"I would like to say that it is a second political conspiracy against my husband," Wan Azizah said.

She was accompanied by her daughter, Nurul Izzah, who is also the MP for Lembah Pantai, PKR deputy president Datuk Syed Husin Ali and PKR vice-president Azmin Ali.

The 23-year-old personal assistant lodged a report at the Jalan Travers police station in Kuala Lumpur Saturday alleging that he was sodomised by Anwar at a house in Damansara Heights on Thursday. Wan Azizah said police had not taken any statement from Anwar in connection with the allegation.

She said Anwar had received death threats and he was now being holed-up in a safe place.

Asked to elaborate on the threats, she said, "Friends told us to take care of him and that his life was in danger."

Meanwhile, Azmin said Anwar could not turn up for the press conference as his safety was at stake following the death threats recently.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=342771]

Malaysia's Anwar seeks refuge after sodomy claim - Reuters

By Jalil Hamid

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim took refuge at the Turkish embassy on Sunday due to fears he could be assassinated after fresh accusations of sodomy.

The developments come at a time of heightened political tension in Malaysia after the government's worst ever election result earlier this year put pressure on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to quit.

Anwar, who was sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998 and later jailed for sodomy and corruption, has seen a revival of his fortunes since the opposition alliance's strong showing in the March election. Anwar has said the old charges were trumped up, and said the new accusations were politically motivated.

"I was transported to the embassy earlier this morning fearing that my personal safety was in danger," Anwar said in a statement.

"I have been told that my assassination has not been ruled out as a means to subvert the people's will and bring an end to the transformational changes taking place in Malaysia," he said.

Anwar says he has won enough support from ruling coalition lawmakers to form a new government by September, which has sparked fears of policy shifts and unsettled investors.

[More at http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyid=2008-06-29T134003Z_01_KLR202077_RTRUKOC_0_UK-MALAYSIA-ANWAR.xml]

Allies, opponents react to Anwar sodomy allegation - The Star

KOTA BARU: The Opposition may be affected by the allegation of sexual misconduct against PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, says PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

However, he said, at this stage it was just a person's word against Anwar and the police should conduct a through investigation.

He said the allegations could be related to a political conspiracy to trap Anwar.

"Such accusation requires witnesses in Islam. It could be true or it could be a conspiracy.

"It is difficult to prove one person’s word against another. That is why, witnesses are required,” he told reporters at Sultan Ismail Petra airport before flying to Perak for a visit.

Kelantan Umno information chief Datuk Md Alwi Che Ahmad said:

"We can only speculate until the police conclude its investigations and the court process takes over.

"Nobody from Umno has anything to gain from trying to fabricate (accusations against) Anwar especially in the current political landscape,” he said.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/29/nation/20080629201619&sec=nation]

PM: No open forums on 'Malay supremacy' - The Star

By V.P. Sujata

PUTRAJAYA: Open forums discussing the purported social contract and "ketuanan Melayu" (Malay Supremacy) will have negative repercussions and should not be held, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said Malays would not like such things to be discussed, adding that no one loses if the two sensitive issues were not debated.

"I feel there is no need to discuss these issues because it gives rise to various reactions from the Malays, including creating animosity and racial tension.

"I do not understand where the loss is if these issues are not discussed. No need to discuss," he told reporters after launching the Bumi Hijau Campaign here on Sunday.

Abdullah was commenting on an open forum to discuss the social contract and Malay supremacy organised by the Malaysian Bar Council on Saturday.

Abdullah said the social contract that had been implemented and followed since Independence 50 years ago was well understood.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/29/nation/20080629150107&sec=nation]

Sodomy claim by aide is fabrication, says Anwar - NST

By : Alang Bendahara, Jennifer Gomez and Kristina George

SHAH ALAM: A police report has been lodged yesterday against Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for alleged sodomy.

The report was lodged by Anwar's 23-year-old assistant who alleged that Anwar had sodomised him at a house in Bukit Damansara on Thursday.

The report was lodged at the Travers police station in Brickfields at 5.45pm.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Muhammad Sabtu Osman confirmed the report and said police were investigating.

Meanwhile, Anwar in a statement early today said the report against him was "a complete fabrication". The statement was read out by PKR vice-president and Subang MP R. Sivarasa.

Anwar also said it was an attempt by the BN regime to arrest the movement of the Malaysian people towards freedom, democracy and justice.

Anwar and other PKR members were earlier at Quality Hotel here attending a scheduled PKR supreme council meeting last night. He received an SMS at 9.30pm and left the meeting immediately afterwards.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/Frontpage/2280532/Article/index_html]