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Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Anwar: We Will Fight - TheStarOnline.tv



PKR held an impromptu rally Tuesday night in reaction to the sodomy allegations made against its de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

PM gives assurance of security - The Star

By Sim Leoi Leoi

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has given an assurance of security for PKR de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the latest police probe against him for sodomy.

The Premier said this Tuesday after meeting with Opposition Leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her daugther Nurul Izzah Anwar for 20 minutes at his office in Parliament building here.

Abdullah said during the meeting, Dr Wan Azizah had asked him to ensure the safety of her husband and that he would not be ill-treated.

“For the Government, we want to ensure the safety for whoever is involved in the case - whether it be the accuser or the accused.

“The laws of the country guarantee their security,” he told reporters here Tuesday.

Abdullah said Dr Wan Azizah had also voiced doubts over the role of Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail as both had been involved in the last sodomy case against Anwar back in 1998.

“I want to explain that both the IGP and the AG are professionals, who carry out their responsibilities well.

“At present, there is no need to have a mechanism like a commission to probe the case,” he said.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/1/nation/20080701211916&sec=nation]

Anwar lodges report against IGP, AG - Malaysiakini

By Chan Kok Leong

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim today lodged a police report against police chief Musa Hassan and attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail for allegedly fabricating evidence in his trials 10 years ago.

Anwar arrived at the Selangor state police headquarters in Shah Alam at about 2.50pm, accompanied by his lawyer Sankara Nair.

Four of his party leaders, including vice president R Sivarasa and treasurer William Leong, had arrived much earlier at about 2.20pm and waited for Anwar to come to lodge the report.

Outside the station, several other party leaders, including two of PKR's MPs N Gobalakrishnan and Yusmadi Yusoff, were disappointed that they weren't allowed into the police headquarters.

The crowd of supporters, though small in numbers (about 30), were vociferous, especially when led by Gobalakrishnan. And after Anwar had arrived 10 minutes later, the two managed to push through the gates, although they were stopped from following their leader into the police station.

A minor scuffle broke out with Anwar's supporters shouting through the gates, but no untoward incidents took place. Soon after, Gopalakrishnan and Yusmadi managed to get to the entrance of the police station.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/85368]

‘Anwar putting on a show’ - NST

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should learn to tell the difference between "reality and play-acting", said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

He said the former deputy prime minister's claim of fearing for his life was baseless.

"I guarantee that his life will not be in danger when police carry out their investigation. We have a legal system here and everyone, including Anwar, must respect it."

Syed Hamid said that since Anwar was released from prison, he had the freedom to do what he wanted as a political activist, both locally and overseas. "Nobody has threatened him. He could move freely making all sorts of statements and allegations.

"We have not taken any action to endanger his life. Why should we do that? His family has done very well in the political arena. This is not a country that stops people from doing what they want to do, so long as it is within the law."

Syed Hamid said Anwar's claims were merely "play-acting" by the Pakatan Rakyat de facto leader to "gain sympathy and make everyone believe his life is in danger".

"This has nothing to do with the government. If a private person reports something, it is the duty of the police to investigate."

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/Frontpage/2282071/Article/index_html]

Najib: Chinese will not be left out in Ninth Plan - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The Chinese will not be left out in strategies to eradicate socio-economic inequalities in the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

Najib, who gave a ministerial statement in Parliament yesterday explaining the details of the third thrust of the strategy framework of the MTR , said an additional explanatory statement needed to be outlined to prevent the issue from being misunderstood by any party.

He added the third thrust, which concentrated on addressing persistent socio-economic inequalities between ethnic groups, would give emphasis on three groups which still lagged behind the other races in terms of income and wealth ownership.

Najib said the three groups were the bumiputras, bumiputras from Sabah and Sarawak and the Indian community.

“This effort will not discriminate against the Chinese community and other groups as outlined under the national philosophy of growth which we had been practising since the 1970s,” he said .

Najib said emphasis would be given to the bumiputras to enable them to have 19.4% equity ownership in the corporate sector, 15% ownership of premises and an average income of RM3,156 each; Sabah and Sarawak bumiputras to have 3% ownership in the corporate sector and have an average income from RM2,063 to RM2,858 each; and the Indians to have 1.1% ownership in the corporate sector, 3.8% premises ownership and an average income of RM3,799.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/1/nation/21701131&sec=nation]

Family shoots down conspiracy theory - The Star

By Faslika Das and Ong Eu Lin

PETALING JAYA: Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan’s family stands by him and stresses that no one put them up to accuse Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of sodomy.

An uncle of Mohd Saiful, who did not want to be named, said the family was on its own in this matter.

“We are not getting any backing from the Government. We are on our own but as a family we fully support Saiful.

“We had asked for the Government’s help but they have chosen to back off and not dirty their hands,” he said when met at his house here yesterday.

The uncle added that they had repeatedly called the Inspector-General of Police but were told to stop calling his number.

He said his nephew had initially approached the Bukit Aman police station to lodge his report against Anwar but they turned him away upon learning who he was accusing.

Mohd Saiful eventually found a police station in Kuala Lumpur which was willing to accept his report, his uncle added.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/1/nation/21704198&sec=nation]

Monday, June 30, 2008

The Government Assures Anwar of Safety - TheStarOnline.tv



Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak denied any involvement in the sodomy allegation against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He was speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby Monday.

Anwar leaves Turkish Embassy - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Keadilan (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim left the Turkish Embassy at about 6.45pm on Monday, accompanied by his wife PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

The couple left in a black MPV and were headed for their home in Bukit Segambut, his lawyer Sankara Nair said.

Anwar had been holed up in the Turkish Embassy since 6am Sunday, seeking shelter because he said he had received death threats after his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhary Azlan had lodged a police report alleging that Anwar had sexually assaulted and sodomised him.

He denied the sodomy allegations, and has filed a suit against Mohd Saiful for allegedly lodging a false and malicious police report.

Anwar is expected to address his supporters at 9pm tonight at the PKR headquarers in Merchant Square, Tropicana in Petaling Jaya.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/30/nation/20080630191613&sec=nation]

Anwar files libel suit against aide - Malaysiakini

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid

PKR's de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim this morning filed a defamation suit against his aide over claims of sodomy.

In the suit which was filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court registry in Jalan Duta, Anwar also claimed that the police report lodged by Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan was an abuse of the process of law.

On Saturday the 23-year-old Saiful had lodged a police report claiming that Anwar had sodomised him at a luxury condominium in Damansara.

The suit was today filed on Anwar's behalf by his lawyers. Anwar is presently seeking refuge at the Turkish embassy after claiming that his life was in danger.

His lawyers, led by Ranjit Singh, said the suit was aimed at clearing his name in court following the scandal which could derail his political aspirations of becoming prime minister.

PKR vice-president and lawyer S Sivarasa who also appeared on behalf of Anwar told reporters that they have asked for the heaing to be held soon.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/85288]

Azmin: Accuser was a 'plant' - NST

SHAH ALAM: Threats against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim have forced him to seek refuge at a safe location, his wife Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said.

Wan Azizah, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat president, described the sodomy allegation against Anwar as the second political conspiracy and attempt on her husband's life.

"You must take into account that when he was detained last time, he was beaten up.

"We have to take this into consideration. This is the second political conspiracy in the country," she said.

The police have not indicated that an arrest is imminent. However, a statement from Anwar in connection with the sodomy allegation is being sought.

At the same press conference, PKR vice-president Azmin Ali alleged that Anwar's accuser was a "plant" by "certain personalities to make this vicious attack against Anwar".

He said the complainant joined the party during the election campaign period.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Frontpage/2281040/Article/index_html]

Man behind Anwar sodomy report seen posing with Cabinet ministers - The Star

SHAH ALAM: PKR has released four sets of pictures showing the man who made a police report alleging sodomy by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The pictures were taken at the office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the accuser was posing with three Cabinet ministers.

One of the pictures showed Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 23, posing with Khairil Anas Yusof, an aide at the Deputy Prime Minister's office.

“I have a picture actually showing the link to the Deputy Prime Minister,” PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail told a packed press conference after the PKR supreme council meeting.

“The young man who lodged the police report (against Anwar) was in the Deputy Prime Minister's office. I think that is explanatory.

“Next to the young man is the Deputy Prime Minister's special officer Khairil Anas Yusof,” she said.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/30/nation/21695182&sec=nation]

The Sun Front Page (30/6)

Read this document on Scribd: The Sun Malaysia Cover (30 June 2008)

The nation’s FREE newspaper 30 sen for delivery to your doorstep MEMBER AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS (MALAYSIA) 275,000 COPIES DAILY Award winning newspaper for public service reporting and opinion writing. No. 4544 PP 2644/12/2008 (020369) Monday TELLING IT AS IT IS June 30, 2008 www.sun2surf.com » PM on MCA president’s move pg2 » New equation in Carey’s life pg21 entertainment Abdullah leaves it to police to probe PUTRAJAYA: Expressing shock over fresh allegations of sodomy against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Barisan Nasional did not have anything to do with it. “Neither Umno nor Barisan Nasional (BN) have any intention to create difficulties for him (Anwar) since he has claimed he made a political comeback in April,” said Abdullah, adding that it was up to police to investigate and conclude if the claim was true or not. He said he did not have any knowledge about the matter and only heard about it from an SMS received on Saturday. “The person involved has made a report. What else is there for us to do? He has a right to lodge a report. We can’t stop him from doing so. Leave it to the police. We don’t meddle. We don’t do that,” he said yesterday morning after launching the Green Earth programme. Asked to comment on Anwar’s claim that it was a repeat of methods used against him in 1998 when false allegations were made under duress, and he was sacked as deputy prime minister, Abdullah said it was not something which the government could ascertain. “Of course he would make a denial. That’s normal. A person who is alleged will make a denial. But if there is proof, it is up to the police to investigate. “Umno has never thought of disturbing him like this. BN also has never thought of making his life difficult or making up something like this or doing anything bad towards him. We don’t have such intention. It never crossed my mind to frame him. I believe my other colleagues, Datuk Seri Najib (Abdul Razak) or anyone, has never thought about that,” he said. Asked if Anwar will be arrested, Abdullah said: “All that I know is, a report has been made and the police will decide what they want to do and how they are going to investigate.” Anwar fears for his life by Charles Ramendran, Tim Leonard and Husna Yusop newsdesk@thesundaily.com SHAH ALAM: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has taken refuge in the Turkish embassy in the wake of what his wife Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail described as a “second political conspiracy” to finish him off. The Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader failed to show at a scheduled press conference at the Quality Hotel here yesterday, following a police report lodged against him on Saturday evening by an aide who accused him of sodomy. The 23-year-old man lodged a police report at the Brickfields police station, alleging that Anwar had sodomised him on Thursday at a condominium in Damansara. It is learnt that in his police report, the man also alleged that Anwar had sodomised him on several occasions over the past three weeks, both locally and overseas. In a press statement issued from the Turkish embassy yesterday evening, Anwar who said he was transported there yesterday morning fearing that his personal safety was in danger, thanked the ambassador for extending an invitation to seek refuge within the embassy. “Since the March 8 elections, » Prime Minister Abdullah: “Umno has never thought of disturbing him like this. BN also has never thought of making his life difficult or making up something like this or doing anything bad towards him. We don’t have such intention. It never crossed my mind to frame him.” » Wan Azizah: “This is the second political conspiracy … and an attempted murder. There is a serious threat on his life. They did it in 1998 and they are doing it again now.” » Anwar Ibrahim: “I have been told that my assassination has not been ruled out as means to subvert the people’s will and bring an end to the transformational changes taking place in Malaysia.” numerous credible sources from within the government and military intelligence have advised me that certain agents from within the Barisan Nasional leadership have initiated plots to cause harm to me or my family or supporters,” he claimed. “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. The former deputy prime minister also said he would make public new evidence implicating the Inspector of Police and Attorney-General regarding cases brought against him in 1998 when he was charged with corruption and sodomy. Wan Azizah who held a press conference accompanied by her daughter Pantai MP Nurul Izzah, and senior PKR leaders, accused the government of a “second political conspiracy” to finish off her husband. She showed journalists a picture message from her BlackBerry, saying “the picture will allow the public to know who is behind the accusations, and why they are doing it now”. The picture showed Anwar’s accuser, a former student leader at Uniten, posing with an official in Putrajaya.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

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]

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Aide alleges sodomy: Report lodged - Malaysiakini

A police report has been lodged against PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim for allegedly sodomosing one of his aides - the second time that such an accusation had been made in over 10 years.

The report was lodged by the 23-year-old victim at the Jalan Travers police station at 6pm.

KL police chief DCP Muhammad Sabtu Osman has confirmed that the report had been made.

It is learnt that Anwar met with a number of party leaders at an emergency meeting late tonight.

At 11.15pm, PKR sent out an SMS message stating that the police had detained Anwar's special aide Saiful Bahari this afternoon and forced him to lodge a police report about being sodomised by his boss.

It added that the police are expected to arrest Anwar soon.

Meanwhile, Anwar is expected to comment on this latest crisis at a pre-arranged press conference tomorrow.

The press conference is scheduled to be held after a meeting between Anwar and all PKR members of parliament and state assemblypersons.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/85246]

Anwar's brother quits job after Ezam barb - The Star

By Wani Muthiah

SHAH ALAM: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s younger brother Rusli has resigned as special advisor to Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd president Datuk Abdul Karim Munisar.

Rusli said he resigned on June 25 due to “baseless allegations” made by former PKR stalwart Ezam Mohd Nor which was reported in a Malay daily recently.

According to the news report, Ezam allaged that Rusli, 59, was appointed as KDEB adviser because of his blood ties with Anwar.

The daily also reported Ezam as saying:

“Anwar had always said there shouldn’t be any nepotism in politics but now he himself has practiced it by appointing his brother to the position.”

Ezam had also demanded an explanation on the appointment from KDEB, the Selangor government’s special-purpose agency to undertake investments.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/28/nation/20080628182734&sec=nation]