Penang MCA says PKR de facto leader should leave it to police to investigate sodomy allegation

PENANG: Penang MCA disagrees with the allegation by Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that there is a political conspiracy to kill his political career.

Its deputy liaison chief Lau Chiek Tuan said Anwar should instead trust the police and leave it to them to conduct further investigations on the sodomy report made against him.

“I believe the claim is untrue and Anwar can say whatever he wants to,” he told Bernama when contacted yesterday.

Anwar, in a statement read out by PKR vice-president Sivarasa Rasiah yesterday, claimed the sodomy allegation was a complete fabrication to kill his political career, similar to that made in 1998 when he was sacked as deputy prime minister.

Anwar’s aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan lodged a police report at the Jalan Travers police station last Saturday alleging he was sodomised by the former deputy at a luxury apartment in Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur on June 26.

Anwar has sought shelter at the Turkish embassy in Kuala Lumpur, claiming he had received death threats and that his life could be in danger.

On another matter, Lau said the time was not right for MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and his deputy, Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, to relinquish their posts.

Lau, who is also the Bukit Mertajam MCA division chairman, said the move would create a lot of competition among the party members to fill the vacancies and could lead to a split in the party.

Ong and Chan announced last Saturday that they would not be defending their posts at the forthcoming party elections on Oct 18.

With this latest development, several party leaders such as vice-president and Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat, party secretary-general and Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Ong Ka Chuan as well as Youth Chief and Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai are likely to be the frontrunners to contest the top two posts in October.

There is also the possibility of two former vice-presidents, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and Datuk Chua Jui Meng, joining the fray.

— Bernama