Anwar playing mind games: Ezam

Anwar playing mind games: Ezam
8 July, 2008

(The Star) - Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is playing mind games, turning a personal problem into a political one, said his former political secretary Ezam Mohd Nor.

Ezam, who has just rejoined Umno, said it was illogical for the Government or Umno to conspire against the PKR de facto leader with the same sodomy theme and the same set up twice.

The way he handled showed that he was playing the game of perception, he said.

“He is turning it from a personal problem to a political problem. The way he turned to the Turkish (Embassy) hiding, the American intervention and alleged conspiracy by the deputy Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) and others against him made it look as though it was between him and the Government, which was unfair,” he said.

On whether he was saying that Saiful had no links with the Government in the allegation, Ezam said he did not know because he did not know Saiful personally nor worked with him.

However, it was unfair for Anwar to accuse Najib or other ministers based on one meeting with each of them, he said.

On whether Anwar’s political career would be gone following a second sodomy allegation against him, he said it would be difficult to say because politics was about perception and not about truth.

“Anwar has great strength in the mind game and forming public perceptions, and he might succeed.

“I am not suggesting that he did it (committed sodomy). I don’t know. It’s between him, Saiful and God,” he said.

“I maintain that his issue is personal and he has to handle it personally,” he said.

Ezam, who was interviewed at Menara Star multimedia studio, said that he returned to Umno because it was the right time when the leadership was opened to bringing changes to the country, which he had wanted to do all along.

On Anwar's claim to be able to take over the country, he said he had to make the claim more realistic to the people.

Based on his experience and information from Anwar’s camp, Ezam said it was an attempt to divert attention away from the internal problems in Pakatan Rakyat and to bind the disagreeing parties, he said.

“Umno cannot be seen under siege by this notion but should move forward and not lugged by his claim of taking over the country,” he said.