Anwar demands sodomy proof
By Teo Cheng Wee, Regional Correspondent
KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim yesterday demanded proof of the sodomy charges against him, in a bid to stem the fallout from reports of leaked US cables.
The diplomatic cables, published by two Australian dailies on Sunday, detailed senior Singaporean diplomats allegedly making critical remarks about Malaysia and other countries. Although the remarks on Malaysia touched on a wide range of topics, the local media has given more prominence to the parts that involve Datuk Seri Anwar's ongoing trial.
Umno-owned Malay daily Utusan Malaysia, for instance, carried the story prominently on its front page. Its headline read: 'Singapore intelligence agency confirms sodomy act.'
In response, Mr Anwar, through his personal account on micro-blogging site Twitter, demanded proof. 'I challenge them to produce evidence,' he wrote. He did not elaborate on who he meant by 'them'.
The leaked cables have caused a stir in Malaysia's media, with many newspapers running the story on their front pages.
The cables, released by WikiLeaks, cited Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew allegedly telling Australian officials that Mr Anwar 'did indeed commit the acts for which he is currently indicted'. Both Australian intelligence and its Singapore counterpart also agreed it was a 'set-up job and he (Anwar) probably knew that, but walked into it anyway'.
But in a statement yesterday, Mr Anwar's lawyers claimed that in their own checks, no such references were made by WikiLeaks, which released the cables exclusively to Australia's Fairfax Media group. Mr Sankara Nair said he had also contacted the Singapore High Commission to ascertain if Mr Lee and Singapore officials had indeed made the statements.
Mr Nair hit out at the media reports here, saying they were 'clearly sub-judice and may constitute contempt of court'.
'It impinges on the integrity of the trial... It is most regrettable that the local media chose to rely on reports and publish matters that are unsubstantiated, based on hearsay and conjectures,' he said in a statement.
Mr Anwar is fighting the charge that he sodomised former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan in a condominium in 2008, in a lengthy court case that has played out in public for close to a year. He could be jailed for up to 20 years if found guilty.
A commentary in the New Straits Times suggested that his lawyers could ask Mr Lee to testify and to show evidence to back up what he or the Singapore officials have observed.
Malaysia's top leaders have refrained from commenting on the leaked cables so far. Former premier Mahathir Mohamad weighed in on the controversy yesterday, telling reporters he believed Mr Lee knew about Mr Anwar's activities.
'Yes, indeed. I think he (Mr Lee) knows, but the political parties are pretending they do not know about it,' he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
But Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy president Azmin Ali claimed Mr Lee's remarks suggested he cannot accept Mr Anwar's leadership. 'Reform policies, which are the basis of Anwar's leadership and Pakatan administration, will enable Malaysia to compete with Singapore and make Singapore irrelevant in the region economic- and democracy-wise,' Mr Azmin wrote on his blog.
Hardline pro-Malay group Perkasa's president Ibrahim Ali said it was Singapore's agenda to 'demoralise' Malaysia. 'I am convinced they (Singaporeans) are really jealous of Malaysia and are not happy with Malaysia on many things,' he was reported as saying.
By Teo Cheng Wee, Regional Correspondent
KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim yesterday demanded proof of the sodomy charges against him, in a bid to stem the fallout from reports of leaked US cables.
The diplomatic cables, published by two Australian dailies on Sunday, detailed senior Singaporean diplomats allegedly making critical remarks about Malaysia and other countries. Although the remarks on Malaysia touched on a wide range of topics, the local media has given more prominence to the parts that involve Datuk Seri Anwar's ongoing trial.
Umno-owned Malay daily Utusan Malaysia, for instance, carried the story prominently on its front page. Its headline read: 'Singapore intelligence agency confirms sodomy act.'
In response, Mr Anwar, through his personal account on micro-blogging site Twitter, demanded proof. 'I challenge them to produce evidence,' he wrote. He did not elaborate on who he meant by 'them'.
The leaked cables have caused a stir in Malaysia's media, with many newspapers running the story on their front pages.
The cables, released by WikiLeaks, cited Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew allegedly telling Australian officials that Mr Anwar 'did indeed commit the acts for which he is currently indicted'. Both Australian intelligence and its Singapore counterpart also agreed it was a 'set-up job and he (Anwar) probably knew that, but walked into it anyway'.
But in a statement yesterday, Mr Anwar's lawyers claimed that in their own checks, no such references were made by WikiLeaks, which released the cables exclusively to Australia's Fairfax Media group. Mr Sankara Nair said he had also contacted the Singapore High Commission to ascertain if Mr Lee and Singapore officials had indeed made the statements.
Mr Nair hit out at the media reports here, saying they were 'clearly sub-judice and may constitute contempt of court'.
'It impinges on the integrity of the trial... It is most regrettable that the local media chose to rely on reports and publish matters that are unsubstantiated, based on hearsay and conjectures,' he said in a statement.
Mr Anwar is fighting the charge that he sodomised former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan in a condominium in 2008, in a lengthy court case that has played out in public for close to a year. He could be jailed for up to 20 years if found guilty.
A commentary in the New Straits Times suggested that his lawyers could ask Mr Lee to testify and to show evidence to back up what he or the Singapore officials have observed.
Malaysia's top leaders have refrained from commenting on the leaked cables so far. Former premier Mahathir Mohamad weighed in on the controversy yesterday, telling reporters he believed Mr Lee knew about Mr Anwar's activities.
'Yes, indeed. I think he (Mr Lee) knows, but the political parties are pretending they do not know about it,' he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
But Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy president Azmin Ali claimed Mr Lee's remarks suggested he cannot accept Mr Anwar's leadership. 'Reform policies, which are the basis of Anwar's leadership and Pakatan administration, will enable Malaysia to compete with Singapore and make Singapore irrelevant in the region economic- and democracy-wise,' Mr Azmin wrote on his blog.
Hardline pro-Malay group Perkasa's president Ibrahim Ali said it was Singapore's agenda to 'demoralise' Malaysia. 'I am convinced they (Singaporeans) are really jealous of Malaysia and are not happy with Malaysia on many things,' he was reported as saying.
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