‘PAS trying to get Anwar off the hook’

PAS has urged those accusing Anwar of immorality to back it up by producing four credible witnessess to accompany the accusation.

SUNGAI PETANI: PAS is trying to get Anwar Ibrahim off the hook by insisting there must be four witnesses if he is accused of being the man in the sex video tape.

“If this is the case, then PAS must draft a new legislation, as all khalwat (close proximity) cases would be tainted if the prosecution cannot bring forward four witnesses,” Kedah Kita chairman Zamil Ibrahim said.

He said PAS – a party with Islam as its bedrock – must champion morality and justice in the right frame and not revert to just pure politicking to champion its cause.

PAS has urged those accusing Anwar of immorality to back it up by producing four credible witnesses to accompany the accusation.

The onus is on Anwar to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he is not the person portrayed in the tape, having sex with an unidentified woman, Zamil said.

Kita is an independent party set up by former federal minister Zaid Ibrahim last year, of which some political observers are describing as a third alternative to Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.

Kita executive committee member Christopher Firdaus said PAS should not be misguided by its alliance with Anwar.

They should allow the rightful authorities such as the police and the justice system to take their course, he added.

“PAS should know that in this modern age, it is difficult to produce four witnesses. Some may be intimidated to come forward as Anwar is a major political personality. We cannot allow the accusers to be victimised by political leanings. We must be neutral.”

Christopher is puzzled why Anwar has decided not to initiate any legal proceedings against his detractors, the trio called “Datuk T” (businessman Shazryl Eskay Abdullah, former Malacca chief minister Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik and former Perkasa treasurer Shuib Lazim).

PAS central committee member Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said PAS believes that any major accusation against a person of high social standing must be done in a transparent and Islamic manner.

Firstly, the four witnesses must be credible and not like some of Anwar’s accusers whom many believe have dubious backgrounds, Mujahid said.

“Today, Anwar is the victim, tomorrow it may be me. Nobody is safe from this despicable nature of character assassination.”

Mujahid said that PAS is not blindly supporting Anwar, but questioning the manner in which the sex video tape was released and the lack of transparency about the investigation process.