Malaysia's leader on Thursday dismissed his rival Anwar Ibrahim's threat to seize power as a "bluff," but ruled out imposing emergency measures if street violence breaks out to protest a sodomy accusation against the opposition figurehead.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also promised justice would be served in the sodomy case against Anwar, the second time he is facing such an accusation.
While denying any government conspiracy, Abdullah indicated that the complaint to police made by a 23-year-old former aide of being sodomized by Anwar would not be taken lightly.
"This man pleads for justice," Abdullah said. "We care about (Anwar) more than we care about this man? That is very odd. He needs justice; that is what he is crying for. We cannot ignore that."
The comment indicated that authorities would not be slowed down by a medical report by a doctor who examined the male aide on June 28. The doctor found no evidence of sodomy, and sent the aide to a government hospital for a second opinion.
The result of the second examination is not known, but the aide made the police complaint the same day.
Anwar says the charges were fabricated to stop him from challenging the government. After leading the opposition to spectacular results in the March general elections, Anwar has been threatening to bring down the government with parliamentary defections.
Asked whether Anwar was bluffing, Abdullah said that "so far, it is going toward that direction."
"Whether he bluffs or not (it seems) he wants to keep his popularity afloat all the time like a stock market share," Abdullah added.
He ruled out imposing emergency rule if Anwar's supporters hold street protests to denounce the latest accusation.
"I don't think we are going down that road; definitely not," Abdullah said. "Why should (protests) get out of hand? That would be very unbecoming of the party that intends to be the government of Malaysia, to take laws into their own hands and demonstrate as they wish."
Abdullah said he believes Anwar is trying to bribe government lawmakers to defect.
"I've heard so much stories, many stories of his buying, tempting them with monetary offers to cross over to the opposition," said Abdullah, whose ruling coalition holds a slim 30-seat majority over Anwar's opposition alliance in the 222-member Parliament.
"If it were true that money were being offered, to me it would be the worst form of corruption," Abdullah said.
He claimed that a majority of ruling party member are loyal to him. Asked if he has the support of 80 to 90 percent of party bosses, he said: "Certainly around that area."
Anwar denies the bribery accusation.
The sodomy accusation has revived memories of how Anwar was ousted from the Cabinet in 1998 after serving as former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's deputy for five years. Anwar was then accused of sodomizing his family driver and abusing his power to cover up the deed.
Anwar was convicted of both charges and sentenced to 15 years in prison, despite his claim that he was framed to quash his challenge to Mahathir. Malaysia's highest court freed Anwar in 2004 when it overturned his sodomy conviction.
The corruption conviction, however, barred him from contesting the March elections. The ban expired in April, and he is expected to contest a by-election soon in a bid to return to Parliament.
By VIJAY JOSHI and
Associated Press
2008-07-31 04:08 PM
Taiwan News Online
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