LIVE: High-stakes drama as Anwar holes up at Turkish embassy

Anwar and Syed Husin at a hotel in Shah Alam earlier (Photo courtesy of Anwar’s blog)

Saiful with Minister Azalina (Photo courtesy of PKR)

2307: All quiet at the Turkish embassy at 118 Jalan U-Thant. An eye-witness passing by the embassy says he saw only about 20 reporters and police personnel, a police van and a police car. And no PKR supporters. Is Anwar really spending the night at the embassy?

2231: The police have confirmed that a medical examination has been carried out on Saiful, reports Harakah Daily this evening. “Jangan dengar khabar angin. Dengar cakap saya. Saya ketua CID,” Bakri Zinin is quoted as saying.

2154: The big question now is what happens next? Will they go in after Anwar? Or will they just bide their time? Has the mattress been detained?(!!) How long can Anwar remain in the embassy? He has got to come out at some point. What happens when he resurfaces? And has this whole affair overshadowed Raja Petra’s explosive allegations, the Sapp bombshell and the large oil price hike protest scheduled for 6 July?

2134: By now, the news has flashed all over the globe including, as one blog visitor notes, in the Turkish online media. Al Jazeera carries a phone interview with Anwar. “The stakes have just gone up a lot higher,” Farish Noor tells me over the phone.

2010: Abdullah Badawi appears on TV3 news. He looks haggard, the bags under his eyes more pronounced. He says the government is not involved. As far as he is concerned, a report has been lodged and the police are investigating. Those who are accused will naturally deny it, he adds. But the news is not good at all for the BN. The MIC Youth chief has stepped down now.

1933: The allegations against Anwar could be seen as an attempt to halt Pakatan Rakyat’s bid to take over the country, says Pas vice president Husam Musa in Harakah Daily. But he does not think it will succeed as the people are able to evaluate the situation for themselves.

1905: Blog reader Abdul sends in this comment about Anwar’s links with the Turkish leader:

The Malaysian Insider is simply spinning it…. Anwar has got friends from all over the world. But what’s interesting is their temerity to say the opposition used AKP tactics. Which one? … Anwar is a good friend of Turkish Prime Minister, President and senior ministers just like he has close relations with Western and Muslim leaders across the globe. Anyway, Anwar-Erdogan relations are two decades old and not what the Malaysian Insider, the propaganda tool of the Dollah regime claims to be.

1824: Anwar issues a statement from inside the Turkish embassy:

I am issuing this statement from within the embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Kuala Lumpur. I was transported to the embassy earlier this morning fearing that my personal safety was in danger. 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 seek refuge within the Embassy.

Since the March 8th elections, numerous credible sources from within the government and military intelligence have advised me that certain agents from within Barisan Nasional leadership have initiated plots to cause harm to me or my family or my supporters. I have been told that my assassination has not been ruled out as means to subvert the people’s will and bring an end to the transformational changes taking place in Malaysia.

Notwithstanding the threats which are intended to silence my voice, I intend make public new evidence implicating that the Inspector General of the Police Musa Hassan and the Attorney General Gani Patail engaged in criminal acts of fabricating evidence in cases launched against me in 1998.

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. This charade was orchestrated by a corrupt Barisan Nasional leadership which made use of the entire apparatus of the state power including its control of the judiciary, the police force, and its grip on the mainstream media. These actions are being repeated today to undermine the forces of reform and renewal which were unleashed in the March 2008 elections.

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

1819: But why the Turkish embassy? Malaysian Insider has this take:

His choice of the Turkish Embassy for protection is not surprising. Since his release from jail after the Federal Court overturned his conviction for sodomy in 2004, Anwar has struck a close relationship with Turkish Premier Reccep Erdogan.

The Opposition politician leaned heavily on strategists from Erdogan’s AKP in planning Pakatan Rakyat’s successful election campaign. This assistance was frowned upon by the government and since then, government officials have been suspicious of Erdogan’s motives and of Anwar’s link with the AKP.

1801: Another academic alerts me to this item about Saiful on Din Merican’s blog:

My colleagues and I knew that he was planted by the other side. So we kept him under surveillance since the day he turned up in our office just before the March 2008 elections. It was a matter of time and we would have exposed him as someone with links to the office of the Deputy Prime Minister. He knew that the noose was tightening around his neck.

There was no security breach because he was not directly involved in the strategic activities of Parti KeADILan Rakyat. He was merely a coffee boy or a butler type.—Din Merican

1755: An academic in KL phones to say that he has learnt that Anwar’s family are now at the Turkish embassy.

1745: About a hundred people are gathered outside the Turkish embassy, many of them PKR supporters, says an eyewitness at the scene.

1735: A source at PKR headquarters says that Opposition Leader Dr Wan Azizah will lodge a police report against the IGP and the AG tomorrow morning.

1725: The overwhelming reaction on blogosphere, as far as I can make out, is one of disbelief - and outrage. There is a sense of deja vu as it looks like a re-run of the 1998 drama. Will a new mattress be trotted out in court again?

1700: Saiful is actually one of four full-time assistants to Anwar, but since he is new, he was assisting one of the other special assistants, says PKR media coordinator over the phone. She adds that there will be a gathering in Parliament tomorrow to express concern about the latest developments.

1530: A source now at the PKR headquarters says that Anwar is now at the Turkish embassy. He has gone there for his own safety.

The aide who has reportedly accused him of sodomy, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 23, signed up as a volunteer before the 8 March general election. He later became one of a coterie of special assistants for Anwar, filling up one of the positions vacated by the PKR advisor’s earlier aides who had won seats in the election. The source told me that the party does not have strict academic criteria in its selection of aides.

Saiful with Minister Shahrir

Saiful with Higher Education Minister Mustapha

Saiful at Najib’s office

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This entry was posted on Sunday, 29 June 2008 at 3.49pm and is filed under Malaysian elections, Malaysian politics. Visited 7466 times, 2 so far today. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

40 Responses to “LIVE: High-stakes drama as Anwar holes up at Turkish embassy”

  1. This Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan is a Mole, planted by political opponents to side-track Anwar’s comeback to Malaysian politics, our highly popular & possibly future PM.

  2. Nothing fails to amaze me anymore … and the worst part is all news netwoks are covering the story.Maybe this the ….. way of promoting Malaysia truly asia.

  3. BN planted its mole right into DSAI’s HQ

  4. Jeffrey Chew on June 29th, 2008 at 5.10pm

    Lies Lies Lies…. I think someone’s pants are on fire…..Mole planting is probable.

  5. Johnny Cheah on June 29th, 2008 at 5.18pm

    Matt, you are damn right, nothing amaze you any more. Neither am I amazed. Instead of governing the country for the good of the rakyat we are seeing more rubbish coming out from them. Hope Anwar have solid evidence against the IGP and AG. Let’s get rib of these BN rubbish once and for all

  6. [...] anilnetto - Anwar at Turkish embassy [...]

  7. We live in an era where conspiracy theory thrives. So this is my take: this could also be anwar’s strategy to create a sense of deep and terrible crisis in the country. yes, he is not a sodomite and I don’t believe he is either and he knew that people do not believe it either. so create one so he could play victim. he is caught in the middle. he does not actually have the ‘numbers’ to form the government and no way he could face the public and have an honest and serious debate with Shabery Cheek on the fuel price. so rather than having to face questions from the public when the time comes to deliver on his promise which would surely undermine his credibility, create a crisis now and make himself the victim: that he is no longer safe and he needs the safe sanctuary of a foreign embassy. Give me a break! As Bill Clinton once angrily said about Obama’s campaign: this is the biggest fairy tale I have ever heard. Badawi, despite his weakness, is not Mugabe. In fact, we are witnessing unprecedented level of freedom and openness in the country. This is probably just Anwar’s way to maintain public distrust towards the government. Try to paint Malaysia as another Zimbabwe where politicians get assasination threat and there you go - all the public and international attention will be on him.

    I believe no member of the government would want to repeat 1998. In fact, i don’t think anybody in the current government believe that he was a sodomite when he had to face the allegation in 1998. 1998 was someone else’s doing.

    The government knows that this kind of allegation will not stand in the court of public opinion. They know that the public will hate them more if they do this. Yes, Anwar is a political threat to them, but not threatening enough for them to lose power on 16 September. At the time when the public is beginning to question the capability and on the promise of the PR in the 5 state governments, this kind of crisis is the last thing a BN government would want.

    Anwar has endured worse treatment in 1998 and he can afford to create such sense of treatment today. It is partly the sense of bad treatment that earns him public admiration and pity. So I won’t rule out the possibility that this is Anwar’s own doing.

    Anwar is a master politician who knows how to play his card well!

  8. Anak Pulau Pinang on June 29th, 2008 at 6.24pm

    Anwar again accused of sodomy? Just goes top prove how bankrupt of ideas the so-called leaders of this country are. The very fact that this sick idea is again cooked up does give me reason to worry though as I can see that the people who know they stand to lose their power once DSAI steps up to the plate are prepared to go to this very lowest level to hang on to power. We cannot allow these s*** to remain in power. The powers behind this stupid move to discredit DSAI do not realize that even if they succeed to remove DSAI again, the Tsunami has already happened and what they can reap from their action is another- THE MOTHER OF ALL TSUNAMIS which will drown them all.
    I worried for my country / our country when our leaders would look aside when a woman is blown to bits for merely endangering the survival of a crooked ******. I now fear for my country when leaders will not/do not care whether their actions can cause turmoil … so long as they succeed in removing the threat to their political survival - whatever the cost.
    The die is cast, BN WILL BITE THE DUST and Malaysians will see the day when ALL BN schemers will pay for their crime. I cringe when I think that this dastardly action and scheme may this time, very sadly force true , honest and loyal Malaysians in the civil service, the police, military service to make their stand for Justice. Malaysia is not cowed the way the country was when Mahathir removed DSAI with the same trumped up charge. The present government is sadly mistaken if they think that they will be able to successfully repeat this s***. They seem prepared to push the country into turmoil, to turn Malaysians against Malaysians, just so that they can remain in power.
    However, they also forget that while they think that by sidelining/ removing DSAI by some the same trumped up charge they have secured their position, the fact of the matter is that the Rakyat have seen through their ploys and are already sick of whatever s*** they have created. PR has the strength, the ability and the support of the Rakyat to deny the crooks the opportunity to destroy this country.
    This is the time for all Malaysians to stand up for the country and unite to remove this Government once and for all.
    To Datin Seri Wan Azizah and family, be assured that the country stands with you to fight for justice and for the country.

  9. My dear Malaysians,

    We may have to go a bit into hsitory to understand the Malay Mentality or rather the Malay Psyche ie. the psychological make-up which full of a syndrome commonly referred to as “hasad dengki”

    Just go back a from the beginning of Malay History, and you will be amazed to learn that there were killings, murders and conspiracy in Malay Sultnate and the Courtiers or rather the Palace residents.

    All this was happening while the process of Islamization was taking place. The Malays with the exception of few individuals and groups simply took Islam for granted retaining many words of Hindu and Buddhist Sanskrit.

    ….

    When it comes to conspiracy, plotting and conniving, (some of them do this) with finese. And we are seeing this right in front of our eyes.

    Remember, the Malay sultanates were colloborating with the Dutch, English and among other sultanates to fight with one another.

    When tin was discovered they plotted to rid of one another by colloborating with the Chinese taipans/towkays and the English and the Siamese.

    Today, you are seeing the very manifestation of the Malay Mentality or Malay Psyche at it best ….ie. “hasad dengki”.

  10. (I refer to Kamal’s comment above)

    Self inflicted accusations now, is it? Just like the black eye?

    It’s sad when grown ups choose to be so naive.

  11. The Malaysian Insider is simply spinning it…. Anwar has got friends from all over the world. But what’s interesting is their temerity to say the opposition used AKP tactics. Which one? I have already commented on this issue in another time. But Anwar is a good friend of Turkish Prime Minister, President and senior ministers just like he has close relations with Western and Muslim leaders across the globe. Anyway, Anwar-Erdogan relation are 2 decades old and not what the Malaysian Insider, the propaganda tool of the Dollah regime claims to be.

  12. I am ashamed to be a Malaysian.The reason:CNN,BBC,ALjazeerah… all covered stories of sodomy in Malaysia.It paints a bad picture that all Malaysians enjoy sodomy only.Do Malaysians not commit other crimes?Why sodomy is highlighted always?Do people not commit this sin in any other country except Malaysia?
    Do you still expect people around the globe to respect Malaysians after this?You must be stupid, if you do.
    When are we going to see change?Change from the same people with same corrupted mentality to stay in power.

  13. I am quite surprised. Surely a young healthy boy of the age of 23 years old can give one hard tumbuk or punch a 65 year old man grandpa who has chronic back pain until he pengsans.

  14. If BN thinks they can repeat the events of 1998, they are sadly mistaken. Times have changed but their mentality haven’t. Malaysians will not take any more of the chicanery and fabrication which the kangaroo court convicted Anwar 10 years ago. Anger and revulsion will make Malaysia ungovernable.

  15. Adam Kontiki on June 29th, 2008 at 8.44pm

    Kamal,

    Well spoken like a true blue UMNO member, but your comment could have been even more interesting if you could spice up an incident here like the earlier one where mahathir said Anwar’s black eye was self inflicted!

  16. Turkish media picks Anwar’s story.

    Zaman Daily (one million sales a day)

    http://www.zaman.com.tr/haber.do?haberno=708036

    Hurriyet Daily (Second best selling daily)

    http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/dunya/9304095.asp?gid=229&sz=31524

    Newstime7 (Turkish based English news website)

    http://www.newstime7.com/haber/20080629/Malaysias-Anwar-at-Turkish-embassy.php

  17. Kamal, you simply exposed yourself as a person of a low mentality an a**h*** who thinks intelligent Malaysians will buy your crap! If you have nothing sensible and constructive to pen, go and lick the socks of Nagis, Ag and IGP. perhaps, this action will do you some good.

  18. The photos tell the true story. A police report may have been lodges against DSAI but the real collateral damage is against the government.

  19. The Bolehland’s Federal Guomen is playing with fire which is going to engulf all of them. I think this time majority of their own grassroot members will desert them because it is too much and it has gone overboard. The political bankrupts have become desperado now.

    The best thing is for all the Guomen MPs to join PKR and the Parliament must call for the CPO and AG of Bolehland to resign immediately and they must be charged accordingly if found guilty. After all, they have lost their credibility to hold office. And the murderers of Mongolian must be charged and sent to the gallow asap.

  20. Kamal's Nemesis on June 29th, 2008 at 9.52pm

    Kamal, why are you posting your comments in all other blogs…are you being paid too? I think you are definitely a retard thinking that everyone else reading here are retardsb too..

  21. I am curious to know how the photos of this so called ‘mole’ with the politicians surfaced so fast?

  22. we should look at d positive side of this event, popularity & support that Anwar receive now has gain much more momentum ! Thx regime umno for ur ‘unsuccessful assassination’ on Anwar.
    d harder regime umno tried, d faster umno dikuburkan !

  23. That last photo - Saiful at Najib’s office - with Khairil Anas, who happens to be Najib’s personal assistant. Is it me or does anyone else think he looks ..queer?

  24. I am wondering what kind of reason will surface that this boy allowed Anwar to sodomise him. The last time his accuser claimed it was because he was the DPM. Perhaps now it will be because he is going to be PM.

  25. True-Leaders.com. The answer to your question is no. He looks more like a rejected drama queen.

  26. Fortunate FormerMalaysian on June 29th, 2008 at 11.21pm

    … At the end of the day the only people who are being “sodomized” here by BN criminals are the hard working, innocent members of the Malaysian public!

  27. “I am the CID chief Believe me.”-Bakri

    Mr CID chief, whats the penalty for rape? what about rape in a police station perpetrated by one of your comrades. Charge him with the full effects of the law and then only talk about believing you.

    “Natural reaction is for the accused to issue a denial”-Badawi

    RPK has made certain sensational accusations in the murder of the mongolian girl. What was the reaction of the accused? Isnt it nothing but DENIAL.

    If this … is an attenmpt to divert the more pressing topical issues, BN, you have failed miserably. You have just evoked the memories of a BN government that is sick and dishonest.

  28. Noor Aza Othman on June 30th, 2008 at 1.08am

    ENOUGH DIPLOMACY WITH N*** RULE! THIS UMNO **** ARE SO EVIL BEYOND WORDS AND COMPREHENSION! WOMEN GET RAPED AND MURDERED MORE AND MORE; AND THE POLICE DON’T EVEN RESOLVE MANY OF IT, AND YET HERE THEY’RE, FOCUSING ON SOMETHING WHICH (TO ME) SEEMS FABRICATED ALRIGHT! I AM SO ANGRY AT SUCH INJUSTICE, AND YET THESE N**** CALLED THEMSELVES “GOOD MUSLIMS”! BELIEVE ME, MANY KAMPUNG MALAYS SUPPORTED ANWAR BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS CRUELLY DONE TO HIM MANY YEARS BACK; AND NOW MANY MORE WILL COME TO HIS SUPPORT! UMNO ***** GO TO HELL!

    NOOR AZA OTHMAN
    WOMEN FOR JUSTICE SUPPORT GROUP PROJECT.
    womenforjustice@mail.org.

  29. [...] updates from the Turkish Embassy from anilnetto.com Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Hijda Hopes Sodomized Section 377 Indian Penal [...]

  30. Anil,

    I can see you have picked my statement on Anwar-Erdogan relations. I have already posted some Turkish media, the popular ones picking the story. But in order to understand Anwar-Erdogan close relations, you have to read what this popular Turkish paper, one owned by Erdogan’s son-in=law said about Anwar seeking safety in the Turkish Embasyy.

    The newspaper, Yeni Safak put it: “Guvenligi Turkiye’ye Emanet.” which means “Under The Safe Custody of Turkiye.”

    Link: http://yenisafak.com.tr/Dunya/?t=29.06.2008&c=4&i=125954

  31. He has done it again. They say; a leopard never changes its spots. Anwar is so spotted and this time he knew for sure he couldnt escape except to find another hole ie Turkish embassy. He always after the wrong holes. A very sick man with sick ambitions. If he did not do it, he doesnt have to hide. All he has to do to quote Bill Clinton’s famous words “I did not have sex with” Saiful hehe. What a d***!!!!

  32. raj raman666 on June 30th, 2008 at 7.19am

    TRue enough AAB or UMnooo bought the same game MM play.
    This time around there is some mistake,the cute little boy is photograph 2gether with UMN0oo MANS.

    HOW?WHY?- this cute little boy allow AI to sodomised him? (MAYBE HE IS A PRODUCT OF EDIOTIC EDUCATION SYSTEM)

    RAJRAMAN.SUDAH DEMAM DENGAN PERMAINAN UMNO/BARISAN.so i gave the benefits of doubts ANWAR IBRAHIM NOT GUILTY.(Sorry kangaroooo court,i already past the judgement)

  33. Remember the “Mahathir” mantra from 1998? Make Anwar Homosexual And Then Have It Repeated!
    Pak Dodo may not be behind (…oops) this but he (appears to have) allowed this to happen and then left it to our most c****** Police to investigate. BN Government is running in circles like a headless chicken.
    Like the late MGG predicted, UMNO will self-destruct!
    Cheng Poh Heng

  34. im sic to the core.

  35. Phua Kai Lit on June 30th, 2008 at 9.08am

    Dear Friends

    Please allow me to post these two comments (posted elsewhere):

    1. When the ideological state apparatus (i.e. state-controlled mass media) fails to work, the next step is to turn to the repressive state apparatus (i.e. police)

    2. Niccolo Machiavelli says that the Prince does not need to be good but just needs to appear to be good.

    Phua Kai Lit

  36. Anak Pulau Pinang on June 30th, 2008 at 9.55am

    Trying times in Malaysia again! Comments and more comments on the Sodomy Issue! What a classic deja vu scenario for DSAI and what a lot of s*** created by mindless politicians and their brainless henchmen to deviate the country’s attention from the Altantuya issue (why has Badawi (appeared to) jumped so fast to the defense of the “accused”???), the SAPP issue. the fuel rise issue and so many since March 8.
    But lets sober up and look at the latest development of DSAI’s supposed running amok again and deflowering this poor young man.
    Kamal, frankly your comments sounds and smells very much like the hot and nauseous gas that your masters in UMNO let out everytime they open their mouths (except that the gas came out the wrong way…) Comment if you must but don’t bloody well babble out with cheap UMNO crap. We are not fooled.
    Badawi has said that he “did not have any knowledge of the matter” (The Sun)./ How very Badawi - How very I don’t know. Mr Prime Minister, if you do not know of anything, you should automatically remove yourself from office. The very fact that someone … is playing very dirty in their efforts to remove a serious threat (though very legal one) to challenge you party legitimacy in running this country politically in such a dangerous manner “without your knowledge” should keep you wide awake (nothing else seems to be able to keep you awake) as they might and will probably have no qualms of scheming to remove you very soon as well - if you seriously think that you want to stay on after December.
    …If a (some people) think nothing of whipping out conspiracies such as the “SorDorMee” against a respected political leader who stands in their way, what are the chances that we the rakyat will be ‘rubbed out’ if we happen to disagree with or stand in the way of these madmen? Guess a sodomy charge is better than a taste of plastic (C4).
    Do we, the public have complete trust in the police (or the ACA that they will do their duties without fear or favour?????
    Hallo, what happened to (other than the high profile case of ‘that Mongolian woman’) complaints of files removed from the Secretariat of Opposition states immediately after March 8. Did they conveniently forget the issue? Sadly, it is obvious to the people that the Police, ACA and many civil servants have also forgotten that they are paid by the Rakyat and that they cannot be swayed by politicians or blindly obey politicians. Therefore, Mr PM do not ask us to ‘trust in the integrity’ HA!- of the Police in this very serious issue. We (suspect) that the main players in the polce department had their hands dirtied in the previous sodomy case, in fact, I am sure that they are so very familiar with the case that they will waltze trhough this new case with their eyes (very much like their boss) closed.
    Let there be a Royal Commission on this issue with at least 2 foreign legal minds sitting in the commission to clear this case. I would believe in that commission - not another kangaroo court type of deal with government trained m****** dancing to the Hadhari tune/

  37. [...] makes out Saiful Bukhari’s police report, PKR’s indignation at the allegations, and Anwar’s taking refuge in the Turkish Embassy for fear of his life to be just one big sandiwara - nothing more than a political drama meant to fool the naive and [...]

  38. Najib said Saiful went to meet his aide regarding scholarship. Najib’s aide must be damn free or what. Saiful’s super poor academic results still entitle him a meetup of scholarship’s request from DPM office?? Malaysia really BOLEH!!!

  39. for Saiful, since he’s a ’student leader’(the only Politics allowed in Universities are AMNO politics) so he gets the usual ‘Gravy-train’ or fast access to scholarships/privileges which is Exactly what we, the rakyat is against: Cronyism, void of meritocracy and accountability! These has shown us how NEP was flawed and failed because top echelons of AMNO are abusing it for their own(party’s) gains.

  40. Kamal

    “. In fact, we are witnessing unprecedented level of freedom and openness in the country. ”

    Freedom and openess??? What is wrong with you?? Helllo!!! Earth to Kamal!! Er..r u sure you r in M’sia??

    “I believe no member of the government would want to repeat 1998. In fact, i don’t think anybody in the current government believe that he was a sodomite when he had to face the allegation in 1998.”

    Wei Kamal, I BELIEVE that most of those bozos in the govt also dont wanna see Anwar in power. Desperate times, desperate measures!!! Use your brain la Kamal and stop deluding yourself by thinking this is just a small matter being overblown by the coverage of media ALL OVER THE WORLD!!!

    Grow UP!!!

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