Utusan: Anwar working with Indons to topple Putrajaya

Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia claims that Anwar is strengthening links with his Indonesian counterparts to put pressure on the Malaysian government.

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia is at it again. After the tirade against the Christians and Bersih, it was quiet for awhile.

Now, the newspaper is back to its stirring best by claiming that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is working hand in glove with Indonesia.

The paper claims that Anwar is strengthening links with Indonesia to put international pressure on Putrajaya.

The article is among the many published by the Malay daily in an apparent attempt to paint the PKR de facto leader and the Pakatan Rakyat bloc as “foreign agents”.

In an article titled, “Anwar bina rangkaian di Indonesia? (Anwar establishing links in Indonesia?)”, Utusan quoted an unnamed source who said that the former deputy prime minister had embarked on a series of dialogues with civil society groups there.

“Anwar is believed to be active in strengthening his ties with the Indonesian Republic to put pressure on the Malaysian government,” said the article which carried no byline.

The source in the report said Anwar had targeted the lower income group, students, NGOs, the Indonesian media, ministers and former politicians for his dialogue sessions.

“Anwar is active in spreading ‘Anwarism’ especially the political target group that is the 70% of the people who are from the middle to lower income group.

“These groups are badly in need of attention by the Indonesian government but are made into targets for political exploitation and manipulation,” the source was quoted as saying.

Anwar’s close relations with prominent Indonesian politicians had also been subject to attacks by his political rivals. He was accused of leading an effort to tarnish Malaysia’s image to serve his political interest, an accusation he rubbished off as “absurd”.

The Utusan article said the source had urged Putrajaya to consolidate ties with Jakarta and use all resources to counter Anwar’s spreading influence there.