“Everyone is asking the wrong questions and making assumptions. The core issue is if the video is authentic. People immediately said it is doctored which is a conclusion and not a debate,” the Kita president told FMT.
Yesterday, former Malacca chief minister Rahim Tamby Chik – one of the three behind the video release – called for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to determine its authenticity.
He also proposed that Zaid, Perkasa and members of the media should sit on this panel.
However, the Kita president said that such a task should be given to reputable police forces such as Scotland Yard, FBI and even the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
“The image of our police force is not fully restored so people will say it is doctored and we will be back at the same argument. So conduct a proper test and if the video is authentic, then let the people draw their own conclusions.
“We have been living under the shroud of conspiracy for too long. The story has always been that somoene is trying to bring Anwar down and that all the allegations against him are fake. We need to come to the truth,” he said.
The former PKR leader added that there was no significance attached to the mention of his name as Rahim was only throwing out names of possible panellists including Anwar’s wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
“It’s up to the government to decide whether there should be an RCI and whether I should be on it,” he said. “But I wouldn’t mind – although I wouldn’t be able to contribute scientifically – only because I would like to view the video again.”
Private viewing
Zaid wrote on his blog today that he too had viewed the video. He claimed that he had found out about its existence through the media like everyone else and simply put out the word that he was interested in viewing it.
The next day he received a call requesting him to attend a private viewing. It was there that he met businessman Shazryl Eskay Abdullah, another of the trio.
“I suppose they agreed to show it to me because Zaid Ibrahim still has value,” he laughed.
“But I wanted to watch it because I knew that this would be a matter of public interest. So if I was asked for my view, I would be able to give it,” he said.
Zaid also confirmed that the man in the video was Anwar although he reiterated that he couldn’t scientifically confirm whether the video was doctored.
“I don’t think; I know that it’s his face,” he stated. “When you see a picture of (US President) Barack Obama do you ask yourself how you know it’s Obama’s face?”
Zaid also shot down Anwar’s argument that the man in the video had a paunch as well as the opposition’s rationale that his back problem would have ruled out the sexual act.
“Anwar is not that slim,” he pointed out.
“When you’re 64 years old with low estrogen levels, you will have a paunch. Can you show me a 64-year-old with a six-pack? And how you know that his back condition is as bad as he says it is? I saw that he was performing quite well in that video!”
“Besides where is his Omega watch that was retrieved from the site? He says it’s with his wife so why hasn’t she shown it? As far as I know, that watch is with the other side because I have seen it.”
Public serivce
Zaid also dismissed speculation that the timing of the video’s release was planned to coincide with the dissolving of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.
“Even if it was released a month earlier, people would still link it to the Sarawak election,” he said.
“You should ask Anwar why he committed this act before this election. You cannot blame these three who are doing a public service.
“If I had such a video in my possession, I would also disclose it because it involves the opposition leader and future prime minister. Isn’t that enough public interest? Don’t you want to know the real man?” he added.
Asked whether he would have taken the same stance if he had not left PKR, Zaid replied: “Yes, of course.”
“I have never betrayed my principle of the truth. Do I have a history of telling lies to people? I think Anwar has told more lies than me as you can see from the previous cases. I have never said anything that is untrue,” he added.
Zaid, in his blog post, expressed disappointment with PAS and DAP for jumping to Anwar’s defence without first verifying the video’s authenticity.
He added that even MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek displayed the trait of a leader by admitting to engaging in a sexual act and stepping down. - FMT
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