Nurul Izzah pleads for support as sodomy, no-faith vote looms

Nurul Izzah pleads for support as sodomy, no-faith vote looms

Nurul Izzah addressing the crowd in the public rally. ― Pic by Shannon Teoh

By Shannon Teoh

Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 ― Despite police intervention, Nurul Izzah Anwar last night managed to make a plea for renewed support on two fronts ― sodomy claims against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the federal opposition's motion of no-confidence in the government.

The Lembah Pantai MP attempted to increase the public's rejection of the charge by calling it a trumped-up accusation aimed at discouraging between some 20-30 MPs who were ready to cross over.

She also reiterated the federal opposition's Pakatan Rakyat stand that Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's 2010 handover plans to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak was both too late and irrelevant in light of its move to resolve a motion of no-confidence in the prime minister and his Cabinet in Parliament on Monday.

"When my mother (Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) and I met Abdullah, he agreed that fitnah (slander) was worse than murder. But why is he now transferring power to Najib, who also lied about not raising fuel prices?" she told a small but enthusiastic crowd here.

People from all walks of life attending the rally. ― Pic by Shannon Teoh

It was her first such public appearance to defend her father, who faced a similar accusation a decade ago.

The Malaysian Insider understands that preliminary investigation papers on the latest sodomy case have been handed to the Attorney-General's Chambers as the police wrap up investigations although Anwar has yet to be quizzed.

Her rally was earlier planned to take place at 8.30pm at Kampung Kerinchi in Pantai Dalam, just a few kilometres from the city centre, but Parti Keadilan Rakyat sources claimed that a heavy police presence including water cannon trucks and a helicopter blocked them from proceeding.

It is also understood that no permit was issued although Nurul Izzah argued that she had already informed the police of the gathering.

Undeterred, the organisers moved the venue to a multipurpose hall in Section 5 here where Nurul Izzah arrived at 10.30pm to a crowd of over 500.

She told reporters later that she personally had no confrontation with the police but her car could not access the planned venue due to police roadblocks. She also denied the rumour that her gathering's organisers in Pantai Dalam were arrested by the police.