Media statement by Karpal Singh in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, 4^th January 2011:

I am amused by the statement of UMNO information chief that Anwar may be blackmailed by me

I am somewhat amused by the statement of UMNO information chief, Senator Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir, that Pakatan Rakyat leader, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, maybe blackmailed by me. He bases his statement on what I told a crowd at a DAP gathering in Federal Hotel in 1997 that I had proof to confirm Anwar was involved in sodomy and that now I was in his defence team. Musa adds further,

"Thus Karpal will delay the trial till the next general election. Karpal will then blackmail Anwar to follow his whims."

Musa adds, in the case of Penang, this would cause Anway, by virtue of his being oppoistion leader, to agree to DAP's demand for the allocation of more seats in the next general election. He then adds,

"The Malays in Penang will lose out and Penang will eventually be like Singapore."

He adds that this might also be the reason for Anwar to come up with the statement that DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang would be made deputy prime minister should Pakatan win the general election. He further adds that he hopes PKR and PAS members would open their eyes and realize these possibilities. He adds,

"I hope they will think about this revelation as PKR and PAS are now becoming victims. The have high hope of him (Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim) leading them but he is being controlled by Karpal and DAP."

Musa insinuates that I, being Anwar's counsel in the ingoing trial involving the allegation of sodomy by Mohd Saiful Bukhari bin Azlan, knew the 'truth' of Anwar's involvement in the case.

In 1997, when I was opposition MP, and when Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim was deputy prime minister and minister of finance, Azizan Abu Bakar (who later was the complainant in Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim's first sodomy trial), Umi Hafilda, Dr. Ristina and a few others turned up at my Kuala Lumpur legal office complaining of an allegation of sodomy on Azizan by Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim. To me, this was a very serious allegation which required investigation. I publicly, and in Parliament, demanded that there be an investigation into the allegation.

However, in a press statement, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, then prime minister in the Mingguan Malaysia dated 31.8.1997 expressed his opinion that penyebar pelbagai khabar angin termasuk perletakan jawatan Menteri Kewangan 'sebenarnya patut ditembak'.

In a press statement dated 3.9.1997 in the NST, the then Inspector General of Police (Rahim Nor) said that police investigations into two letters alleging sexual scandal involving deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim revealed that the allegations to be untrue.

The report dated 24.8.1997 in Bernama under the heading 'Mahathir - Anwar No Truth in letter alleging Anwar's involvement in sex scandal' quoted Dr. Mahathir Mohamad as saying at a press conference that there was an attempt to sabotage Anwar's image through allegations that Anwar was involved in a scandal. Mahathir also said allegations against Anwar were ridiculous based on a report he had received. Dr. Mahathir also said the case was closed after police investigation.

In a press statement entitled 'Fitnah Bermotif Politik' in the Utusan dated 25.8.1997, Dr. Mahathir said that the allegations against Dato' Seri Anwar were slanderous with a political motive (merupakan fitnah yang bermotifkan politik).

Subsequently, the then Attorney-General, Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah made a public statement that the allegations against Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim were baseless and that no action was intended to be taken in the matter.

By letter dated 2.9.1998, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad dismissed Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim as deputy prime minister and minister of finance after which he was arrested and charged for the offence of sodomy against Azizan Abu Bakar.

I was invited by Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim to join his defence team in the course of his trial.

On 30.4.2001 Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim was convicted and sentenced by the High Court, Kuala Lumpur to six years imprisonment and two strokes of the rotan. His appeal to the Court of Appeal was dismissed on 21.8.2003.

It is very significant to note that the Federal Court allowed Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim's appeal on 2.9.2004 and set aside his conviction and sentence.

It is clear beyond the pale of a doubt that even the Federal Court did not accept Azizan Abu Bakar's testimony to be strong enough to convict Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Despite my position against Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim as an opposition MP in 1997, Dr. Mahathir cleared him as then prime minister of the allegation against him. So did, the then IGP Rahim Nor, the then Attorney-General, Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah and above all, the Federal Court, the highest court in the land. It cannot be said, under the circumstances, that I had, in anyway, acted unprofessionally in these proceedings.

In the second sodomy trial, which is now ongoing, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim is charged for alleged sodomy on Mohd Saiful Bukhari bin Azlan on 26.6.2008. I am presently also his defence counsel. It is preposterous for Musa to now suggest that I know the truth about the Parti Keadilan de facto (Dato' Seri Anwar) leader's involvement in the case being Anwar's counsel in the ongoing sodomy trial which was not even in existence in 1997 and, therefore, being in a position to blackmail Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

It is obvious, therefore, what Musa has stated has no basis whatsoever to it. My statement in 1997, that I had told a crowd at a DAP gathering in Federal Hotel that I had proof to confirm Anwar was involved in sodomy, cannot by any stretch of the imaginations, mean or imply that I have knowledge of Anwar's alleged involvement in relation to the charge in the ongoing sodomy trial which was not even in existence then.

* Karpal Singh, DAP National Chairman & MP for Bukit Gelugor