Analysts: Sex tape no impact on Anwar's political career or S'wak polls

As Malaysia's mainstream media played up a sex tape allegedly involving Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, analysts and civil society leaders expressed shock at the way sex and dirty politics was being used to "kill off" rivals and urged the government of the day to put a stop to it.

"I think it is incumbent on the government to do the necessary investigations and then publicly disclose if the tape is real or false. I understand Anwar has lodged a police report on the matter and I think this is a good starting point," Ramon Navaratnam, chairman of the Centre for Public Policy Studies, told Ramon Navaratnam.

He was referring to a video that an anonymous group had suddenly whipped out, claiming it showed Anwar having sex with a female prostitute. A day after the video was privately screened for the press to watch amidst tight security and high secrecy, the Umno-BN controlled mainstream media went into attack mode.

Lining up comments from pro-Umno observers, they predicted political doom for Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and his Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

Sickened by the lack of morals

But rather than convince, the overkill may boomerang.

"I think the people are already fed up. They are sickened at the way the mainstream press is allowed to splash out many of these explicit details and I would remind that newspapers are avaible for sale to all. It will create a very sick impression on our youth to see their leaders indulging in these sort of gutter politics," said Ramon.

"I must say that politics in Malaysia has always been very competitive but it was never as below-the-belt or as without morality as it is now."

He does not expect the sex tape to have any impact on Anwar's political career or on the outcome of the Sarawak state elections, which are expected to be held on April 16.

Ong Kian Ming, a professor at the University College Sedaya International, agrees with Ramon.

“The effect the videos will have on the Sarawak elections are limited because the Sarawakians do not base their votes on what happens to Anwar. In 1999 when Anwar was arrested, there was barely a ripple caused as he’s not seen as a Sarawakian leader. Their campaign message will continue to be Taib being in power for 30 years,” Ong told Malaysia Chronicle.

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