Kuala Lumpur: Wan Azizah, the wife of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, has rejected sexual allegations against her husband. "Accusing Anwar of sodomy is ridiculous," she told Adnkronos International (AKI) in Kuala Lumpur. "Let's be serious. Anwar is a very religious person and father of six children. Accusing him of sodomy once more shows that we have to work harder because our country is yet to change."
Anwar was accused of sodomy for the first time ten years ago when he was deputy leader and member of the United Malays National Organisation and his popularity threatened at that time by the then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad.
Anwar was sacked and arrested over allegations of sexual misconduct and later served six-years in for corruption. In 2000 he was found guilty on a second charge, of sodomy, and jailed for a further nine years. But in late 2004 Malaysia's Supreme Court overturned the sodomy conviction and he was freed.
According to most analysts, the two verdicts were politically motivated. The same doubts surfaced when he was accused again of sodomy a few months ago by one of his former aides.
Wan Azizah said the first trial was very hard for Anwar and her. During that period, she took over the pro-Anwar movement and created the People's Justice Party, which forms the basis of Anwar's political coalition today.
"I had no choice. I saw it as my duty as wife and mother. My husband was arrested and humiliated and I had to keep the honour of the family and continue his fight," he said.
"But I had a lot of support. People saw me as defenceless and helped me. I was never alone."
Wan Azizah said her faith helped her during moments of weakness.
After her husband's return to politics, Wan Azizah has gradually withdrawn from the spotlight. In August she resigned as a member of Parliament and while she is still president of the party, many expect her to leave that post soon.
"It is what I prefer. I feel I have come full circle. I was the wife of a politician, then I became a politician and I am going back to be the wife of a politician. It is fine. I am first and foremost a wife and mother," she told AKI.
"And there is no doubt Anwar is a better politician than I will ever be."
ADNKRONOS INTERNATIONAL
04/10/08
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