Anwar: KJ slandered me as he considered himself 'immune'

Jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim today testified in the Kuala Lumpur High Court that Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar slandered him at a political ceramah in 2008 as the Umno Youth chief had considered himself being "young and immune" to any action.

Khairy felt immune as he was the son-in-law of then prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Anwar said in his witness statement in the defamation trial against the youth and sports minister.

“He was influential and had power with a special office on the fourth floor of the Prime Minister's Department,” he said.

The PKR de-facto leader said Khairy's defamatory remarks on Feb 19, 2008, was directed at him (Anwar) personally, which had a negative connotation and was in contempt.

“It had hidden meanings, painting me as a homosexual, having low moral character, and of having committed crime and vice. It created a perception that I was guilty of an offence under Section 377 of the Penal Code and went against the syariah law.

“It was clear that the statement made was directed to smear me, to say that I was not qualified to hold a political position, or any position as I am considered a danger to the society at large. The slander was directed to lower my reputation and had affected my image. Also being attacked were PAS and DAP,” said the former deputy prime minister.

It was reported that Anwar had filed the RM100 million suit against Khairy following his “main belakang” remark which meant that the PKR de-facto leader is a homosexual. The story was reported by Malaysiakini on Feb 20, 2008.

Khairy had testified that his remark had been taken out of context.

To questions from his counsel Sivarasa Rasiah that the words Khairy uttered had no sexual connotations and had other meanings, Anwar replied it was clear and not ambiguous as it had sexual meaning.

Anwar when asked whether Khairy had been remorseful over what was said, the opposition politician said "never" and he contrasted Khairy's action with Mahathir, when both men had met last September.

He said Khairy's actions was to the extreme as he twisted the words “main belakang”, “maksiat”, “tidak bermoral” "to have political connotations".

Anwar further said that following his jail sentence, Khairy's lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah had participated in a roadshow organised by Umno to criticise him further.

He further added that as a result of Shafee's action, he had also lodged a complaint against Shafee with the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board.

“Khairy continued to attack me in his amended defence statement by painting a picture that I am a traitor to my friends and political alliance.

“This is meant to deviate attention from the problems the country is facing where the economy had seen rising prices, and 1MDB being investigated in the United States, Switzerland, Australia and Singapore,” he said.

“I also filed a legal action against Khairy in 2007 when he accused me of being a traitor to the Malays and being an American and Jew puppet. On trial day in January 2013, Khairy agreed to resolve (the case) by stating he never made those statements. I agree to withdraw the suit then when he said he did not make the statement,” he said.- Mkini