KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim lodged a complaint at the federal Islamic religious department against 23-year-old Mohd Saiful Bukhari on Wednesday for accusing him of sexual misconduct.

The move came after Anwar was challenged to swear on the Koran to prove his innocence.

In a bid to clear his name as well as his family's, Anwar – accompanied by his wife Wan Azizah – lodged a report at the federal religious affairs department.

His former personal aide, Mohd Saiful, had claimed in a police report lodged on June 28 that he was sodomised by his boss on eight separate occasions.

Anwar, who maintained that he is innocent, said the fresh round of allegations was part of the government's ploy to derail his political comeback.

He also explained why he has declined to swear on the Muslim holy book to prove his innocence despite being challenged by some, including Mohd Saiful.

He said: "They are saying 'Anwar has no courage to do that'. What I have said is very clear – if the ulamak (Muslim religious scholars) advised it and if the Syariah court says this needs to be done, I am prepared to do it.

"There's no question of me not prepared to take an oath. This is an Islamic religious issue, not an UMNO political game."

Anwar's lawyer has also defended his action.

Kamar Ainiah Kamaruzaman, a Syariah lawyer, said: "In Islam, a man is presumed innocent. Whoever accuses him has to bring proof – it's not for the person to swear because swearing of oath is a form of evidence. It's not for him to prove his innocence; it's for the accuser to prove that he's guilty."

It is the first time that the country's Syariah council has received a complaint from a man against another man. Mohd Saiful, who is currently assisting investigations, has been put under police protection.

Under the Syariah criminal law, Mohd Saiful will have to produce four male witnesses, who are credible, to prove that sodomy has been committed. Otherwise, he would have committed Qazaf, which is a criminal offence under the Syariah law, and he could face a fine of US$1,500 or a three-year jail term or both.

Police have so far recorded statements from 18 witnesses, but they have yet to bring Anwar in for questioning.


- CNA/so