TROUBLED: Mr Saiful.
AS CAMPAIGNING for Permatang Pauh by-election entered its third day yesterday, the Quran-swearing issue remained a talking point.
TROUBLED: Mr Saiful.
The Barisan Nasional camp has come out in support of Mr Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan's decision to swear on the Quran. Others on the opposing camp are calling it an unnecessary move that is politically-motivated, even un-Islamic.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak was the latest to join the fray when he said that Mr Saiful's actions would convince BN supporters and fence-sitters.
He also called on Mr Anwar to give his DNA and blood samples to prove his innocence against the sodomy charge levelled at him by his former personal aide.
Though he noted these charges are a personal issue between the two, he accused Mr Anwar of manipulating it for sympathy votes, reported The Star. He urged voters: 'Your duty is to elect someone to represent and work for you, not to save Anwar.'
The Edge quoted him as saying that MrAnwar could win an Oscar for his antics over the last few years.
It quoted Mr Najib as saying: 'Everything that he has said, including that there were attempts to kill him, has been without basis or proof. He even invited himself to the Turkish embassy.
'His latest accusation is that the sodomy case against him is a political conspiracy.
'But it was he who chose a personal assistant (Mr Saiful) who was jambu (good looking), not us, it was he who interviewed and hired him, and it was Mr Saiful who accused him, not the BN. What political conspiracy is he talking about?'
Others who have backed Mr Saiful's move of swearing on the Quran include PM Abdullah Badawi and Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein. Former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohd outrightly called on Mr Anwar to swear his innocence on the holy book.
Utusan Malaysia quoted religious scholars and religious officials such as the Mufti of Kedah as saying that this was an Islamic move and represented the most serious form of oath. Mr Saiful's father, Mr Alan Mohd Lazim, also called on Mr Anwar to do the same.
Despite these calls, Mr Anwar said he will not do it.
He had earlier called the act a 'mockery of the holy book'. Said Mr Anwar: 'If you respect the law and the dignity of a man, do not use the Quran for political mileage.'
The medical reports, he said, have proven his innocence. Others have denounced the act as un-Islamic.
Said former Indonesia president Abdurrahman Wahid: 'There is no such thing as swearing on the Quran in Islam. Just open the books on Islam.'
He added that it was enough for both Mr Anwar and his accuser to take an oath in the Syariah court.
Meantime, Mr Anwar's accuser has denied that his move was politically-motivated.
M'sian election briefs
Wedding stops during campaign
WEDDING functions have become the latest must-do in the Permatang Pauh candidates' campaign strategy.
BN's Datuk Arif Shah had 10 wedding invitations while Mr Anwar, PKR's candidate, had six, reported TheNew Straits Times.
Both candidates took advantage of the wedding functions to garner support for their campaigns.
Datuk Arif Shah was accompanied by Gerakan secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye while Mr Anwar attended his with his wife, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
They were seen spending several minutes with their hosts and moving on to other locations.
He survives on two hours of sleep every night
DATUK Arif Shah Omar Shah has been surviving on two hours of sleep every night since his candidacy for Permatang Pauh was announced last Saturday.
The affable 52-year-old told Berita Harian: 'I just have about two hours of sleep nightly.
'The rest of the time, I sneak in a five-minute nap while travelling from one campaign stop to another.'
The BN candidate also confessed to popping more vitamin pills now.
Appearing unconcerned by his lack of sleep, he made light of it, saying: 'Early (Sunday) morning, my wife woke me at 5am. I asked her why she woke this old man up so very early, but then I realised it was for the morning prayers.'
He has set his sight on beating Permatang Pauh's '10-year curse', referring to the period - from 1999 - which Mr Anwar's wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, has held the electoral seat there.
Is candidate's brother a bankrupt?
HIS brother is a bankrupt.
An SMS making the rounds in Malaysia alleges Umno candidate Arif Shah Omar Shah's brother is involved in a shipping scandal and has since been made a bankrupt.
Mr Arif Shah said in response to the SMS: 'I have no comment because I am not involved in their business.'
Mr Arif Shah said he has no direct involvement in any of his family members' businesses and has never sat on any of their boards as a director.
He argued the SMS campaign was merely a campaign to attack him using his brother's connection.
Nevertheless, he said was ready to explain the matter further in a press conference soon.
Chosen because of close ties with Najib?
MR Arif Shah denied he was chosen as the candidate due to his brother, Mr Amin Shah's, close ties with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is also Umno deputy president.
'Most of the corporate (figures) in Malaysia are somehow having a good relationship with the leadership of the day.
'Maybe at the time, he (Amin Shah) has to kowtow (to certain leader) and thus having a good relationship (with the leaders),' he said.
Zubaidah Nazeer
The Electric New paper
20/08/08
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