POT CALLING KETTLE BLACK? Shafee wants to bring up Anwar's 'low morals'

Senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that he should be allowed to question the 'low' moral character of former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Representing Senator S Nallakaruppan in defending against Anwar's RM60 million defamation suit, Shafee said the query is part of his client's defence of justification.

Anwar is suing Nallakaruppan over alleged defamatory remarks made by his former tennis partner in the article 'Anwar terima RM60 juta' (Anwar receives RM60 million) which was published in Mingguan Malaysia and Sinar Harian in Aug 2008.

Nallakaruppan, who is the Malaysian United Indian Party (MUIP) president, had said in news reports that he gave RM60 million from gambling company Magnum Corporation Bhd to Anwar.

“The statement (made) by my client was reported in Utusan Malaysia and Sinar Harian on Aug 23, 2008, that is, prior to the Sodomy II incident on June 26, 2008.

"It does not matter whether the conviction was held eight years later but the defence should be allowed to ask this question.

“Since Anwar has pleaded in his statement of claim that it had affected his reputation of being a good Muslim and (he is cast) as a person of low moral character, it is already shown that Anwar had been found guilty of corruption, and despite the acquittal in Sodomy I, the Federal Court judge in his (Feb 10) judgment made the remark that the court believes that the incident did happen.

“Now that he has been found guilty of sodomy II, and corruption (i.e. abuse of power earlier, this) proves that Anwar has low moral character.

"This is part of the defence of justification that my client is pleading,” Shafee argued before a packed court room full of Anwar and Nallakaruppan's supporters.

For this reason, Shafee submitted the defence should be allowed to bring up the conviction.

The Umno-linked lawyer was making his submission as required by Judicial Commissioner Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab, before he could raise the issue of Anwar's Sodomy II conviction which was upheld by the Federal Court on Feb 10.

At the session last week, Shafee had already asked questions during cross-examination regarding Anwar's conviction for abuse of power and the remark by Federal Court judge Abdul Hamid Mohamad who said the sodomy act did happen. - M'kini