Malaysians are convinced that Anwar is the victim and not the culprit.

Sex scandal gives Anwar a boost

A PKR leader claims the latest sex scandal implicating the opposition leader has backfired. Instead of sealing his political ambition, it has given it more zeal.


SUNGAI PETANI: A Kedah PKR leader claims that party supremo Anwar Ibrahim has emerged stronger politically following the revelation of a sex video last week.The black and white footage recorded using CCTV technology apparently depicts someone who resembles Anwar having sex with an unidentified woman, believed to be a sex worker.

It was shown to the media at a hotel and later those responsible revealed themselves after initially using the moniker “Datuk T.”

The three were entrepreneur Shazryl Eskay Abdullah, Malay rights group- Perkasa treasurer-general Shuaib Lazim and former Malacca chief minister Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik.

Kedah Indian Affairs Bureau chairman V Arumugam said many fence sitters have now swayed towards Anwar simply because of an “overkill” of attempts to “character assassinate” him.

“Coffeeshop talk in Kedah indicates that people are fed up with the gutter-style of politicking and the retribution will be done in the ballot boxes. I think Anwar was given a bonus by his deractors.”

He said the tape has led “thinking” voters to realise that something is seriously wrong in the country and they may now opt for the radical changes which Anwar has been advocating since 1999.

Arumugam, the former Bukit Selambau assemblyman, said Anwar’s deractors or those in possession of the tape, wrongly calculated the political mood on the ground.

The tape, he added, raises more questions than answers, including who was behind the taping of it, the sex worker’s identity, a possible conspiracy and the background of the accusers.

Furthermore, Arumugam said those involved in the process, were later found out to have tainted pasts and this has eroded their credibility in the eyes of the public.

“Now, we find that even ordinary voters who previously disliked Anwar have began to empathise with him. I think PAS and DAP have also emerged stronger for sticking with Anwar,” he said.

IGP: Tape not doctored

When pointed out that the issue is similar to when DAP chairman Karpal Singh exposed a sex video in 1989/1990 which implicated former MIC secretary-general DP Vijandran in Parliament, Arumugam said Karpal did so in public glare of the House to show transparency in his intent and motives.

He said the latest sex scandal, however, was revealed to the media first followed by an attempt to blackmail by demanding that Anwar and his wife, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, resign within a week.

He said the accusers and some parties may be convinced that it is Anwar in the tape but they should have advocated transparency in revealing it, not through a series of secretive tactics.

“It sends a picture that they are trying to hide something …”

Now, the onus is on authorities such as the police, to prove beyond reasonable doubt in the public eyes, the outcome of their investigation, he said, adding that for national interests, the probe and its findings should be expedited.

In the meantime, Anwar is somewhat enjoying a resurgence of support but whether it translates into votes during the Sarawak state election or the general election, only time will tell, Arumugam claimed, adding that in Kedah, many are convinced that Anwar is the victim and not the culprit.

The national police chief Ismail Omar meanwhile today confirmed that police investigation discovered the sex tape was not doctored but refused identify the man in the video.

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