Monday June 30, 2008

Anwar takes up refuge offer from Turkish embassy

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sought refuge at the Turkish Embassy at the invitation of its Ambassador to Malaysia Barlas Ozener.

The PKR de factor leader wrote on his blog at anwaribrahimblog.com that he had gone to the embassy because he feared for his personal safety.

“I was transported to the embassy earlier this morning (Sunday). I thank all those who offered to assist me in this time of need and am grateful to the Turkish ambassador for extending an invitation to me to seek refuge within the embassy,” he said.

“I would like to assure my family, friends and supporters in Malaysia that I am safe and remain committed as ever before in continuing the struggle for a free and just Malaysia.”

Embassy rush: A crowd gathering outside the Turkish embassy where Anwar has sought refuge. He claims he is holed up in there because his life could be in danger. – KAMARUL ARIFFIN/ The Star

He also alleged that since the general election, he had received information from credible sources within the Government and military intelligence that there were agents from within the Barisan Nasional leadership who were plotting to harm him, his family or supporters.

Anwar said he would make public new evidence which implicated Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.

He also termed the new allegations against him as a charade orchestrated by the Barisan leadership and meant to undermine the reform that started after the general election.

“The allegations that have been made against me on Saturday are nothing more than a replay of the events which transpired in 1998 when I was sacked from the office of the deputy prime minister, jailed and beaten, and then charged and convicted by a kangaroo court for crimes which I never committed.”

A group of Anwar supporters gathered outside the embassy from 4pm and later some PKR leaders also emerged.

Security presence: Policemen keeping watch outside the Turkish Embassy in Jalan U-Thant in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. — Bernama

They included Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairudin, PKR supreme council member Badrul Hisham Shaharin and PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin.

Badrul Hisham said many embassies, especially from the Middle East, had offered refuge to Anwar but he had chosen Turkey because of his close ties with the country, including having served as its economic adviser.

“He is not seeking political asylum and he is not a political refugee. He needs to be in a safe place where he can think of what to do next,” he said.

He added that Anwar had asked his supporters to remain calm and obtain information from reliable sources.

“He knows there are many rumours going around at the moment. I spoke to him and he sounded calm. He is okay,” said Badrul Hisham.

Cheras OCPD Asst Comm Ahmad Amir Mohd Hashim said a team of 40 police personnel members, including from the Light Strike Force, were on standby at the embassy.

“The situation is under control and those who gathered at the embassy cooperated with our men,” he added.

Meanwhile, Anwar’s lawyer S.N. Nair went to the Brickfields police station yesterday morning to get a copy of the police report on the sodomy allegation.

However, he failed to get the report, which was made at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, and has now officially written to the Brickfields OCPD for a copy.

A copy of his application for the report has also been forwarded to the Inspector-General of Police, the KL police chief and the Attorney-General.

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