Get rid of Anwar as he is a menace to democracy, says Zulkifli Noordin

Former Perkasa deputy president Datuk Zulkifli Noordin today claimed that opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) is a menace to democracy and has to be gotten rid of after being convicted of sodomy.

In his latest blog posting, Zulkifli said there were convicted criminals within the Yang Berhormat (elected representatives) community and questioned how Malaysians could "live in dignity" if a convicted criminal is leading them.

Zulkifli pointed out that in President Barack Obama's state dinner address, he had expressed hope that Malaysians will continue living with dignity and in peace, and Zulkifli believed the remark was made with Anwar in mind.

"This is no ordinary comment, Obama is well aware that Malaysia has an opposition chief who has been convicted of sodomy," Zulkifli said.

"He knows very well that in the West, a sodomy conviction would lead to the voluntary resignation of the culprit from Parliament.

"The only way for Malaysians to fulfil Obama's hope is to get rid of this menace of democracy once and for all."

Zulkifli noted that during the live telecast of the media conference between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Obama, questions were asked about Anwar.

A CBS reporter had asked the US president whether the issue had been raised during the bilateral meeting with Najib.

"Obama's answer was very dignified and statesman-like as he said that he had always been concerned about upholding the rule of law and right to be heard.

"In Anwar's case, Obama hoped that due process of law would be given to the former."

Zulkifli pointed out that Obama had not touched on the subject of Anwar from the human rights or democracy angle, but from the rule of law's point of view.

Zulkifli said the US State Department would have briefed Obama well on Anwar's case and the salient points.

"As far as Putrajaya is concerned, it is not a case between them and Anwar. It is a case between two individuals.

"A report was lodged by one of Anwar's former staff who claimed that he had been sodomised by his own paymaster!"

Zulkifli said it was not only Anwar who needed to be accorded justice and the due process of the law, but the victim was also entitled to justice.

"In Malaysia, the victim has every right to justice, just like the accused," he said.

"Putrajaya cannot be seen applying two different sets of laws, one set of laws for the big man, and another set for the small man.

"It must be equally applied, justice and due process of the law," Zulkifli said, adding such was the firm answer from Najib to the global audience.

A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal unanimously found Anwar guilty of sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Putrajaya had appealed against the January 9, 2012, High Court decision which acquitted and discharged Anwar of sodomising Mohd Saiful, 26, at a Desa Damansara condominium unit in Bukit Damansara on June 26, 2008.