PKR today sought to discredit Raja Petra Kamarudin as a “hired Umno blogger” and part of a larger plot to smear Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ahead of the latter’s sodomy trial verdict.
The PKR de facto leader will learn the verdict on his sodomy charge on January 9. He is accused of sodomising a former aide, a charge he has vehemently denied and claims is a conspiracy to destroy his political career.
Today, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution said Umno and Barisan Nasional were determined to see Anwar jailed, adding that the attacks against Anwar was meant to deflect from the government’s financial scandals.
“It should not be forgotten that Raja Petra Kamarudin, now more known as a ‘hired Umno blogger’, once made a sworn statement that (Datuk Seri) Najib (Razak) and (Datin Seri) Rosmah (Mansor) were involved in the brutal murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shariibuu...
“The latest are spins by Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian, Umno-owned media who ... pick and contort Raja Petra Kamarudin’s statement on lies and allegations about Anwar’s case in their front pages,” Saifuddin said in a statement.
The self-exiled blogger told Utusan Malaysia that Anwar was morally unfit to become prime minister as Malaysians could not accept a homosexual leading the country.
Raja Petra did not explicitly call Anwar homosexual but said there was no room in Malaysia for someone who is gay and wants to become PM.
He also said he was “90 per cent” sure the man in the “Datuk T” sex video was Anwar, and that many of the latter’s friends believed in the authenticity of the video.
Saifuddin said the interview was a part of Umno’s “desperation” to discourage Malaysians from turning up at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on January 9 to show support for Anwar.
“Anwar is the opposition leader of Malaysia, the Permatang Pauh MP and PKR de facto leader. As a political leader, he has his followers and supporters.
“The attendance of his followers and supporters and PKR members to support him should not be seen as an attempt to cause chaos,” added Saifuddin.
The Machang MP went on to claim that Umno would cause havoc on January 9, and urged Malaysians to see past Umno’s dirty tactics.
“All the discrepancies and financial abuse by Umno and Barisan Nasional has not been answered by Najib and his Cabinet,” added Saifuddin, referring to PKR’s allegations of abuse against Senator Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and her husband in the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal.
