The Pahang Daily Online website today retracted six articles it had posted almost two years ago over allegations that Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan - who has accused Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim of sodomising him - had contracted a sickness.
The website also issued an apology to Saiful which was posted on the latter's personal blog yesterday.
The articles, published two years ago, alleged that Saiful had contracted a disease as a consequence of lying when he swore in a Aug 2008 religious ceremony that he was willing to incur divine malediction if he was indeed lying over his sodomy claim against Anwar.
Among the articles was one that alleged Saiful had contracted a sexually-transmitted disease.
Saiful had lodged a police report with his sodomy claim two months earlier.
According to the posting carried last night by Pahang Daily Online, the retraction followed confirmation that the “mystery disease” that had struck Saiful “was not at all true”.
“As a hot and sensationalist blog, articles sent in by members of the public and members of our crew from around the country are not vetted well, thus causing some reports (published) to be in violation of the code of ethics.
“For that, we apologise to Mohd Saiful Bukhari and his family and all the people of Malaysia for the mistake.
Police probed blogger
"Although we know that the retraction may affect the credibility of this blog, we are forced to do it for the sake of truth," said the website.
The website clarified that an investigation was carried out to determine the veracity of the claim as carried in the six articles.
"After two years of having our crew (members) investigating the articles about Saiful's mystery disease, it became clear that the reports are indeed not not true at all.
"We tried to contact those quarters who sent the e-mailed articles, but did not get any answers.
"We even tried, through Saiful's relatives and friends, and it became even more apparent that the reports of his mystery disease as carried by this blog two years ago are not true," the website said further.
The editor of Pahang Daily was iinvestigated for five hours by the police in March 2009 after a report was lodged by Saiful over the postings.
Saiful then proceeded to initiate legal action against the website in April the same year.
Saiful, on his part, said the apology showed that he had always been on the side of right and refutes claims that he had acquired a chronic illness and was physically suffering.
Saiful: It serves as 'a lesson'
Following this apology, in an immediate reaction, Saiful said he hopes it serves as "a lesson to those quarters still slandering in me in the various media."
“The issue of apologising requires, however, that I get advice from my lawyers before taking the next steps,” he said in a posting on his blog.
“Eventually, the truth will prevail. I will persevere, pray and be patient. I would like here to express my thanks to all those who have supported me and prayed for me and my family,” he said.
“The struggle for truth will go on. I will not concede defeat nor stop,” Saiful added.
Saiful's court hearing against Anwar over his sodomy claims are scheduled to continue starting Feb 14.
- Malaysiakini
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