[asia-apec 613] ANWAR: Plot to Topple me

[PAN Asia Pacific]

The Star
September 4, 1998

Anwar: High-level plot to topple me  
 
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday denied allegations of links with foreign  
elements and sexual misconduct, claiming that there was a "high-level" conspiracy to topple him.  
 
The sacked Deputy Prime Minister told a press conference at his home in Bukit Damansara he also  
had evidence, in the form of witnesses, statutory declarations and tapes, to counter the allegations.  
 
He claimed that the conspiracy was partly motivated by "jealousy," noting that he was given red  
carpet treatment on a visit to the United States.  
 
Anwar was flanked by his wife Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Umno Youth chief Datuk  
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, PAS president Fadzil Nor and about 50 supporters.  
 
He was removed from the posts of deputy prime minister and finance minister on Wednesday  
evening. No reasons were given for his dismissal. 
 
Asked if he thought that the Prime Minister was not being rational by sacking him, Anwar said:  
"That is for the media to interpret."  
 
At the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday, the Attorney-General and the police filed four  
affidavits to support the police decision to hold Datuk  S. Nallakaruppan in a Bukit Aman lock-up  
instead of at the Sungai Buloh prison, citing security reasons including an investigation involving a  
top national leader.  
 
One of the affidavits alleged that Anwar had engaged in sexual misconduct which included sodomy  
and illicit sex with several women and a man and attempts to seduce a businessman's wife.  
 
To a question, Anwar claimed that all the allegations against him were fabricated in a political  
conspiracy of the "highest level."  
 
"I have appealed to the Prime Minister not to be influenced by the conspirators. I have even written  
two letters dated Aug 25 and 28 to him but they went unreplied.  
 
"Yesterday, (Datuk Seri) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) gave me an ultimatum to either resign or be  
sacked with possible charges to be brought against me.  
 
"I refused to accede to his request and I challenged him to use the democratic process to prove the  
allegations," he said.  
 
Anwar also claimed that government institutions were manipulated by  people who plotted against  
him and fabricated accusations.  
 
"If I, as the number two man in the country, cannot be assured of justice, then it is a great shame  
for the country," he said.  
 
However, Anwar declined to reveal the names of the alleged plotters, butsaid: "I have evidence to  
prove it."  
 
"It is certainly a political conspiracy against me to prevent any possibility that I will challenge the  
PM," he said.  
 
"I can't say if the PM is directing it. But they are rich people, businessmen and supreme council  
members (of Umno)," he claimed.  
 
Anwar also claimed that he might be arrested under either the Official Secrets Act or the Internal  
Security Act.  
 
He said that he had already started legal proceedings to fight his removal. 
 
"I will be around for a long time," he said. "The Malaysian people are not so stupid. I've advised  
my friends to remain calm and respect the law."  
 
He said he had also undergone two DNA tests, one of them abroad, to refute allegations that he  
had fathered an illegitimate child.  
 
Anwar said he planned to remain active in politics and vowed to fight "until I get justice."  
 
Later, he confirmed that the dismissal letter from the Prime Minister's Department was delivered to  
his house on Wednesday night by the police.