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KUALA LUMPUR : Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who fled to the Turkish embassy after being hit with sodomy accusations, said on Monday he will not leave until his safety is guaranteed.
Anwar, a former deputy premier who was sacked and jailed a decade ago on sodomy and corruption charges, said the allegations levelled by a 23-year-old male aide were designed to derail his stunning political comeback.
"They came out with these sexual allegations to stop me from securing power," said the charismatic 60-year-old whose opposition alliance seized a third of parliamentary seats in March elections.
"There are two reasons why I decided to come to the embassy. It's not just for my personal safety, it's also for the stability of the nation," he said, referring to expectations of major protests if he is arrested.
"I urge my supporters to be calm but firm. Enough is enough, we will fight it out," he told AFP in a phone interview from the mission in downtown Kuala Lumpur.
Anwar sought sanctuary there on Sunday, saying he feared a government assassination plot after being hit with the "fabricated" sex allegations which he said were concocted by the government.
"I need a categorical assurance on my safety. You know I have previously been assaulted to near death," Anwar said, referring to a beating at the hands of the police chief after he was sacked.
"Sure, if they give me an assurance for my safety today I will leave the embassy today."
Foreign Minister Rais Yatim reportedly accused Turkey of meddling in Malaysia's affairs, saying it had no right to give sanctuary to Anwar, a friend of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"When you run away from the law, it is not the same as facing some political persecution. As such, the embassy cannot grant him any sort of protection," Rais told The Star daily, adding he would meet with the Turkish ambassador.
Anwar's lawyers on Monday filed a writ at the High Court charging the young aide with libel and filing a false police report, saying the complaint was malicious and designed to destroy his political career.
After his sacking, a watershed event in Malaysian politics, Anwar was convicted on the sodomy and corruption charges and sent to jail for six years. He was released in 2004 when the sex charge was overturned.
The opposition leader said the new allegations came just as he was about to re-enter parliament through a by-election. He was ineligible until mid-April because of the corruption conviction.
But he said he was still on track to seize power, with the help of defecting government lawmakers.
"The momentum is still on," he said.
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar accused Anwar of staging a drama and said that he was perfectly safe.
"No one has endangered his life, a private person has made a police report against him. You should allow the police to investigate," he told reporters.
"It is play-acting on the part of Anwar to gain sympathy, to show that his life is in danger. I give guarantees that his life will be protected, his life is not under threat at all."
Leading human rights group Suaram said the allegations were a sign of desperation by the ruling coalition as it faced being ousted by Anwar's resurgent opposition.
"We see this as a politically motivated move by the ruling party. They are at the brink of losing power and support of the people," said Suaram's executive director Yap Swee Seng.
"I think there will be a wave of street protests in support of Anwar against these wild allegations," he said. "People are fed up with corruption and abuse of power by this regime."
- AFP/ir
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