THE Turkish embassy in Jalan U Thant that is sheltering de facto Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim — accused of sodomy for the second time — has become the focal point following the triggering of a fresh political crisis by the former deputy prime minister.
Top Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) officials did not dismiss a possible standoff between Anwar and the authorities who want to interview him in connection with the alleged sodomy of his 23-year-old aide.
Anwar had sought refuge at the embassy on the advice of party officials and at the invitation of the ambassador following death threats against him.
Till Press time, there was no sign of Anwar leaving the embassy where he has been holed up since 6am on Sunday.
It is not clear if Anwar was seeking political asylum but, in a late posting on his blog, Anwar said he would remain there until the government guaranteed his safety as well as that of his family.
This has raised questions on how the police would handle investigations into the case as they need permission to enter the embassy to interview Anwar.
Some political analysts have also warned of a possible diplomatic row if the embassy resists Malaysian authorities’ bid to carry out investigations into the allegation.
Any attempt to arrest Anwar, said the analysts, could spark off unwarranted tension.
They speculated that by seeking refuge in a foreign mission, Anwar is planning to attract world attention.
Said one analyst: “It is a very fragile situation that could get out of hand if it is not handled carefully as there is a real danger of political temperatures rising.” In his blog, Anwar added that he had not been allowed to meet the “media and friends” while seeking shelter at the embassy, adding that only “Azizah (his wife Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) and my children” were allowed to visit him.
Attempts to get comments from Wan Azizah proved elusive. A visit to PKR headquarters in Merchant Square, Tropicana, around 9pm did not reveal the presence of any of the party’s top leaders.
However, Wan Azizah’s car was spotted leaving the premises about an hour later.
Anwar’s daughter, Nurul Izzah, also remained tight-lipped over the case.
Attempts to get her comments were rebuffed, with aides telling the Press that she was “not yet ready to speak to the media”.
Wan Azizah is expected to lodge a police report against Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail over alleged misconduct during Anwar’s trials in 1998-1999. PKR members are also expected to voice their discontent at Parliament this afternoon.
Anwar, meanwhile, said in his blog that while he was accorded a comfortable stay at the embassy, it “cannot match the comfort of home”.
He also stated that his decision to seek shelter at the embassy was related to plans to lodge police reports against two prominent government officials.
In an earlier posting from the embassy, he stated that he had evidence to prove that the two had allegedly fabricated evidence in cases launched against him in 1998.
Meanwhile, about 4pm yesterday, some 100 supporters and onlookers had, upon learning that Anwar had sought refuge in the embassy, gathered outside its grounds. Also on hand were over 40 policemen to keep the situation under control.
A roadblock, manned by four policemen, was also set up along Jalan U-Thant around 8pm. However, checks by Malay Mail until 6am showed minimal traffic entering the embassy row.
Observations also revealed no unusual activity at the embassy.
PKR supreme council member Badrul Hisham Shaharin told the Press that Anwar was at the embassy temporarily and that many embassies had offered him shelter.
“He has come here because he was offered this by the Turkish Embassy as he has good relations with the country.
He has not run away,” he said.
The latest accusation comes 10 years after Anwar was ousted from the government in a power struggle amid accusations of corruption and sodomy. He was convicted on both charges.
Anwar was first convicted for corruption on April 14, 1999 and jailed for six years. He should have been released on April 14, 2003 after a one-third remission but had to start serving his sentence for the sodomy offence, which the court ordered to be served consecutively.
He was freed in 2004 after the Federal Court acquitted him of the charge of sodomising his former family driver after he had served six years in jail.
Bloggers were also working overtime last night, with postings on Anwar’s decision to seek shelter at the Turkish Embassy drawing a torrent of comments and responses.
Some of the blogs also posted pictures of the aide, who had allegedly only joined Anwar three months ago as a volunteer and been promoted as personal aide recently.
Some blogs had also claimed that the man, said to be a student leader when he was at a local university, got engaged just a month ago. A picture, allegedly of him and his fiance, was also posted in some of the blogs.
The online Malaysian Insider reported that Anwar’s choice of the Turkish Embassy for protection is not surprising.
“Since his release from jail after the Federal Court overturned his conviction for sodomy in 2004, Anwar has struck a close relationship with Turkish Premier Reccep Erdogan.
“The opposition politician leaned heavily on strategists from Erdogan’s AKP in planning Pakatan Rakyat’s successful election campaign.
“This assistance was frowned upon by the government and, since then, government officials have been suspicious of Erdogan’s motives and of Anwar’s link with the AKP,” Malaysian Insider reported.
Anwar had led an alliance of opposition parties, Pakatan Rakyat, to unprecedented gains in the general election last March, wresting a third of parliamentary seats and five States from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.
Since then he has claimed he has the support of enough members of parliament to form a new government.
Yushaimi Yahaya and Frankie D'Cruz
Malay Mail
30/06/08
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