...and he's ready to fight back
Malaysiakini.com
Jul 21, 2008
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz 

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim today welcomed Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan's lawsuit against him as an opportunity to go head-on with the country's top cop in the legal arena.
MCPX

"I'll be happy to face him in court," Anwar told reporters after giving his statement to Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) officers at the agency's headquarters in Putrajaya this morning.

anwar give statement to aca 210708 01Anwar had lodged a police report against Musa and Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail claiming they had fabricated and manipulated evidence pertaining to the 1998 'black eye' incident.

The IGP today filed a defamation suit against Anwar at the Kuala Lumpur High Court civil division registry seeking an unspecified amount of damages and an injunction to restrain Anwar from repeating the allegation.

A similar suit is expected from Gani.

Asked about Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's assurance that Musa and Gani would not be involved in the investigations into sodomy allegations against him, Anwar said he appreciated Abdullah's "concern" and "action" although it was "one month too late".

"But at least there is the acceptance that these two (Musa and Gani) cannot be trusted in dealing with my case," said Anwar.

He noted, however, that there were still doubts regarding the independence of the investigations, as Musa and Gani still preside over the police force and the government's prosecution body.

Anwar, nevertheless, expressed his satisfaction with the ACA officers who recorded his statement this morning.

He said he gave officers his statement and evidence - in the form of the royal commission of enquiry report into the ‘black eye' incident, a statutory declaration and a statement made in court - relating to the alleged planting, suppression and manipulation of evidence.

Pattern to demonise, intimidate

Asked about assertions by the Kuala Lumpur Hospital - where he underwent a medical examination following his arrest last Wednesday - that he had not been stripped naked and measured as he had alleged, Anwar reiterated his stand that the incident did occur.

"I did, I was, I had to strip naked because they said it was part of the investigation and I was under police custody. My private parts were examined," he said.

He also said he was "saddened" by statements by the hospital authorities to the contrary. He also questioned why he was made to fill up a form at the hospital usually meant for rape victims.

To the Minister of Health Liow Tiong Lai who accused him of "politicising" the police investigation, Anwar said: "Who is politicising it?"

"Where on earth do we have a case where the Minister of Health, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Home Affairs Minister and the Prime Minister (making statements on a police case)? Everybody's coming in!" he said.

"It is the vulnerability of a (single) citizen against the might of the entire government."

Riled up when asked about his reservations on giving a DNA sample to the police, Anwar questioned whether all accusations of sexual offence lead to an immediate DNA test.

"I haven't (even) seen the report (against me). What is the issue? What is the claim? What is the evidence? Why is it in this case, a DNA sample is being asked for (immediately)?

"Why don't you ask all the others (against whom such accusations have been) alleged? Why are their samples not asked? Why the assault, the ambush and arrest? Why dump me into a cell?

"These are the questions that have to be raised. There is a pattern here to demonise and intimidate me," he said.

Unlike other criminal cases, Anwar added, the burden of proof had been stacked against him instead of being placed on his accuser.

"The burden of proof is on them to prove (my guilt). It's not for me to prove (my innocence)," he said.

Pakatan's agenda to proceed

On another matter, Anwar said the reform agenda was still top on Pakatan Rakyat's plan and would proceed as planned.

"Pakatan Rakyat has a plan, and is continuing with the plan. It's very much on our agenda. We want to pursue the agenda of reform. I believe we can proceed, and we'll make the necessary announcement soon," he said.

On reports that PAS leaders had met with Abdullah, Anwar said this was not a problem as his wife, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as well as PKR vice-president Mohd Azmin Ali, had also met with the prime minister.

He also denied claims that PAS leaders felt they were being sidelined in the Pakatan coalition.

"Ustad Hadi said their commitment with Pakatan Rakyat remains," Anwar said in reference to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

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