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Sunday, 29 June 2008 07:08pm |
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©The
Malaysian Insider (Used by permission)
Released at 5.30pm from the Turkish embassy in Kuala Lumpur
JUNE 29 — I am issuing this statement from within the embassy of the Republic of
Turkey in Kuala Lumpur.
I was transported to the embassy earlier this morning fearing that my personal
safety was in danger. I thank all those who offered to assist me in this time of
need and am grateful to the Turkish ambassador for extending an invitation to
seek refuge within the embassy.
Since the March 8 elections, numerous credible sources from within the
government and military intelligence have advised me that certain agents from
within Barisan Nasional leadership have initiated plots to cause harm to me or
my family or my supporters.
I have been told that my assassination has not been ruled out as means to
subvert the people's will and bring an end to the transformational changes
taking place in Malaysia.
Notwithstanding the threats which are intended to silence my voice, I intend
make public new evidence implicating that the Inspector-General of Police Musa
Hassan and Attorney-General A. Gani Patail engaged in criminal acts of
fabricating evidence in cases launched against me in 1998.
The allegations that have been made against me on Saturday are nothing more than
a replay of the events which transpired in 1998 when I was sacked from the
office of the deputy prime minister, jailed and beaten, and then charged and
convicted by a kangaroo court for crimes which I never committed.
This charade was orchestrated by a corrupt Barisan Nasional leadership which
made use of the entire apparatus of the state power including its control of the
judiciary, the police force, and its grip on the mainstream media.
These actions are being repeated today to undermine the forces of reform and
renewal which were unleashed in the March 2008 elections.
I would like to assure my family, friends and supporters in Malaysia that I am
safe and remain committed as ever before to continuing the struggle for a free
and just Malaysia.
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Circular No 297/2008
I do not think the BBC report on the latest Anwar episode encourages foreign investors. Here it is, anyway:
Page last updated at 10:55 GMT, Sunday, 29 June 2008 11:55 UK
Malaysia's Anwar seeks sanctuary
A party official said Mr Anwar had received death threats
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has sought refuge in the Turkish embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
Officials from his party said he had gone there for his own safety after receiving anonymous death threats.
Earlier, Mr Anwar rejected a new allegation of sodomy made by a member of his staff, describing it as a complete fabrication to discredit him.
He says the claims by a 23-year-old are designed to block his political resurgence after success at the polls.
The ex-deputy PM was jailed in 1998 on sodomy and corruption charges he has said were politically motivated. The sodomy conviction was later overturned.
Although freed from jail in 2004, the corruption conviction barred him from holding political office until 15 April 2008.
The latest claims against him came from an aide who has worked alongside him from the beginning of the year.
The right moment
But Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi denied that the government had fabricated a case against him.
There was no conspiracy "to cause [Anwar] trouble or harass him or raise such issues to undermine him", he said.
In the general election in March, Mr Anwar led an opposition alliance to considerable gains.
They won control of the legislatures in five out of the country's 13 states, and an unprecedented 82 of the 222 seats in the House of Representatives.
The ruling National Front saw its worst showing in decades, prompting calls for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to resign.
Since then Mr Anwar has said he has the support of enough MPs to topple the government but is waiting for the right moment.
Stephen Tan Ban Cheng