PKR says Utusan’s tweet-tracking malicious

The PKR strategic director says Anwar’s tweet timeline shows frequent updates throughout the period in question.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 — PKR has slammed an Utusan Malaysia report tracking party de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Twitter messages during the time he allegedly had sex with a prostitute as “unethical reporting”.

In a strongly-worded statement, PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli said the report was “malicious” and aimed at supporting wild allegations against Anwar, who has been accused of having sex with a prostitute on the night of February 21.

The Umno-controlled Malay daily published a report today claiming that Anwar had failed to tweet during the time in question, listing his messages to micro-blogging site Twitter to back its argument.

Rafizi, however, pointed out that the embattled opposition leader had tweeted nine times between 10.38pm and 11.08pm on February 21.

Using screen captures as proof, he showed that Anwar had tweeted at 10.40pm, 10.49pm, 10.50pm, 10.52pm, 10.58pm, 11.03pm (twice), 11.05 pm and 11.08 pm.

The recently revealed sex video allegedly showing Anwar having sex with a prostitute was supposed to have been shot between 10.20pm and 10.41pm that same night.

Rafizi pointed out that none of the reports by editors and reporters who saw the video mentioned that the man in the recording had been having sex while using his mobile phone to send Twitter messages.

He also said there was no doubt it had been Anwar who wrote the messages as they displayed his characteristic use of language and interaction with followers.

“Therefore, it is impossible that the actor recorded in the video is Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” Rafizi said.

He also refuted the Utusan Malaysia’s claim that there was a one-hour lag between messages posted on Twitter and those on Facebook.

Rafizi said messages sent to Twitter through Selective Tweets will appear only after a two-minute gap on Facebook, again using screenshots to bolster his claim.

“These explanations are enough to prove to the Malaysian people how wretched Utusan Malaysia is for publishing allegations ... without due investigation as long as it serves to spread the word of its owner, Umno,” he said.

Rafizi added that PKR would consider “further action” if the paper did not extend an apology to the party and its leader. - Malaysian Insider