Johari: 100% certain it was a conspiracy and top Umno leaders involved

PKR MP for Sungei Petani Johari Abdul said it was “100 per cent certain” that the Umno elite were involved in the ‘Datuk T’ sex video conspiracy to tarnish Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and entice his elected representatives to defect.

“You are not talking about anyone. This is Anwar. He is not only a prominent politician but well known throughout Asia and the West. Definitely, Rahim would have discussed this with the top leaders,” Johari told Malaysia Chronicle.

“Then what about the money. Who is going to bear the cost of this exercise?”

He was referring to Rahim Thamby Chik, the former Malacca chief minister, and businessman Shazryl Eskay who have confessed to having master-minded the screening of a video tape that purportedly showed a man looking like Anwar having sex with a female prostitute.

Both men have since handed over the tape and an Omega watch they allege belongs to Anwar to the police.

They have also called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry to determine if the man in the tape was Anwar.

Critics including Johari have rubbished their request, saying it was like a “thief asking the victim for justice.”

"There are enough laws to punish them. There is no need for any RCI," Johari insisted.

RCI - yes but on government involvement in the sexual conspiracy not Anwar's identity

Yet calls are snowballing for an RCI although not into the identity of the man in the tape, which can be determined by the police, but for a thorough investigation into the government’s role in the conspiracy.

After all, Umno is the ruling party and government agencies were used.

The booking for the Carcosa Seri Negara hotel where the video was illegally screened was made by Rahim through Risda – a government agency.

Special operatives were suspected to have helped maintain security while the screening was ongoing.

The BN-controlled media including the Star has been linked to the fiasco.

Keeping pornographic material and showing it in public is a crime in Malaysia, punishable by imprisonment of up to 5 years.

Conspiring and cheating with impunity

Since the controversial 1998 sodomy trial pressed by former premier Mahathir Mohamad against Anwar, who was later acquitted, there has been a string on sexually-charged political scandals in Malaysia.

But in the past two years, during Najib’s watch, the situation has worsened.

There are strong concerns amongst civil society leaders that if left unchecked, “sexual traps” will become de rigueuer in the Malaysian political arena and conspirators will continue to hatch devious plots with impunity.

Dishonesty will become the lead characteristic of Malaysian politicians, and who gets to govern will not be the most qualified but who can stoop the lowest.

"Sexualised politicking is low, shameful and an insult to the dignity and humanity of all Malaysians," said human rights NGO SUARAM in a statement on Thursday.

"We wish to remind all concerned to be mindful of Article 12 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that, No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks. - Malaysia Chronicle