The latest investigation will add to Anwar’s existing troubles with the law. — File pic
PETALING JAYA, Nov 11 — The police are now probing Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for allegedly providing false information when questioned about the “Datuk T” sex video, a move PKR says is politically motivated.
The probe was opened after investigating officer, DSP Shanmugan Moorthy, lodged a police report claiming Anwar had knowingly given him false information, an offence under Section 182 of the Penal Code.
The crime is punishable by a six-month jail term or a fine of RM2,000.
The new police investigation is expected to pile pressure on the opposition leader, who has steadfastly denied being the man seen having sex with a purported prostitute in the video.
The video was shown to the media in April by former Malacca chief minister Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik, businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and former Perkasa treasurer-general Datuk Shuib Lazim – collectively known as Datuk T.
PKR today claimed that the probe was yet another politically-motivated attack on Anwar, who is also the party’s de facto leader.
“This is a very disturbing new development,” PKR vice president N. Surendran told reporters at the party’s headquarters here today.
“What we see here is the start of a new political trial against the federal opposition leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.”
Surendran said he had no doubt Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) were colluding with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney-General (A-G) to bring down Anwar, “just as they were behind the persecution in 1998 and... in 2008”.
“They are all in it together. They are planning it together,” he said, adding that the police should end the probe immediately.
PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli said the probe appeared to be an attempt by BN to distract Malaysians from the ongoing controversy over the National Feedlot Centre (NFC), linked to Umno vice president Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil.
He pointed out that it was odd the police decided to bring up the issue now even though Shanmugan lodged his report on September 28.
“Their modus operandi is to bring up a new issue slandering Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to distract the people, in the hopes that the people will forget the cows in the condo.
“This time around, this tactic and tricks they have used for the last 13 years will not succeed, three to four months from the general election,” Rafizi said.
PKR political bureau member Sivarasa Rasiah added that the investigation proved that the ruling coalition had run out of political capital and needed to resort to gutter politics to attack Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
The new probe could distract Anwar as he prepares to lead his opposition pact into the general election, expected in the first quarter of next year.
Anwar is currently on trial for allegedly sodomising former aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a charge the opposition insists is politically motivated.
The former deputy prime minister was previously convicted of sodomising his aide and his driver in 1999, but was released in 2004 after the decision was overturned.
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