Monday August 18, 2008

Ball in Anwar’s court, says Abdullah

BUTTERWORTH: It is up to PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to swear on the Quran and clear his name, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“It is up to him to decide what he wants to do. He should know what is best for him,” he said after meeting Chinese and Malay community leaders here yesterday.

Commenting on Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan’s declaration at the Federal Territory mosque on Friday that Anwar had sodomised him, he said the manner Saiful took the oath followed Islamic practice and law.

“We must respect a person who seeks justice when he professes that something unlawful was done to him. It is a personal matter and we should not question his sincerity.”

Abdullah reminded the people that Saiful was a victim in the issue.

He said Saiful made a personal decision to swear on the Quran, a move that is not taken lightly by a Muslim.

On the attack on two journalists on nomination day, Abdullah said the incident was highly embarrassing.

He said action should be taken against those responsible.

“Is this the democracy that the West propagates, that there must be demonstrations in order to obtain freedom, as if there is none?” he said.

Abdullah said newspapers and the Internet presently reported all sorts of things freely but people still said there was no freedom of speech.

“What more freedom do they want? I am puzzled. What sort of freedom do they want? Are they asking for freedom without limits? There is no such thing in this world,” he added.

Asked if action would be taken against UiTM students who recently demonstrated in the streets, Abdullah said: “Well, if they have done anything that contravened the law, they will have to answer for it.”