Media told to apologise to Anwar for sex video reports

Penang Pakatan Rakyat youth leaders are seeing red over news of the leaked sex video purportedly involving their leader, Anwar Ibrahim, splashed all over the front pages of several major mainstream media on Tuesday.

The group led by Penang PKR Youth vice-chairperson Syed Mikael Rizal Aidid (left), is also demanding an apology from the Information, Communications and Cultural Ministry over the matter.

"Instruct all mainstream papers which carried the news on its front pages to apologise to Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, his family and all Malaysians," Syed Mikael told the ministry, headed by Rais Yatim.


The Youth leaders also urged all Malaysians to remain calm over the recent allegations against Anwar, who is Permatang Pauh MP.
Syed Mikael said people should review the slanderous allegations cautiously.

The video was revealed by a trio who called themselves 'Datuk T'. One of them was once accused of raping an underage girl, he added, referring to former Malacca chief Minister Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik. The charge was later dropped.

The other two - businessmen Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and Perkasa treasurer Shuib Lazim - are individuals said to have close links to Umno.

He urged the police immediately arrest the trio for clearly committing an offense under Section 292 (a) of the Police Act.

After viewing the black and white video over Youtube, depicting two men and a woman in a hotel, the youths convinced that Anwar is not guilty.

'Extremely shameful'

Syed Mikael said Pakatan youths are fully behind the denial issued by PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who claimed the man in the video was not her husband, Anwar.

He added that it was "extremely shameful" that the clip had been witnessed by the whole world.


To allay the concerns of the people, Prime Minister Najib Razak must immediately instruct all government agencies and institutions under him to resolve the matter, he stressed.

"Najib must also order the Malaysian Communications and Mulimedia Commission to take action against all blogs which published the video with the intention of undermining Anwar's political career", he said.

"The earliest blogs which carried the video were pro-Umno bloggers Papagomo and Gerakan anti-PKR," he added.

Police had questioned Anwar (left) and 34 others. The former deputy prime minister has denied he was involved in the video.

Syed Mikael also wants Umno Youth's new media unit to issue orders to all its bloggers to retract the video and apologise to all Malaysians.

He also wants the Home Ministry investigate thoroughly the video still in the possession of the police.

"Najib should also apologise publicly for his failure to prevent this massive transgression against Anwar, his family and all Malaysians," he added. (By Susan Loone)