Malaysia Notes

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday lodged a complaint with the Federal Territories Islamic Affairs Department against the man who accused him of sodomy.

Anwar is accusing his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, of committing qazaf or false accusation of fornication.

Anwar, who was accompanied by his wife and Parti Keadilan Rakyat president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, denied that his action was to divert attention from police investigation into Saiful's sodomy claim.

He said the police probe could continue but he had to protect his and his family's reputation.

Anwar said his religious advisers told him that there was no need for him to swear on the Quran.

Last Friday, Anwar was challenged by Putera Umno to swear on the Quran to prove he never sodomised Saiful.

Anwar and his lawyer met with Jawi enforcement chief Mohd Ajib Ismail at 10.15am yesterday to complain that Saiful's allegation against Anwar was done without proper witnesses, which resulted in Saiful committing qazaf.

Under section 41 of the Federal Territories Syariah Penal Code 1997, the offence of qazaf is committed when a person accuses another of fornication without evidence from four male witnesses.

If Saiful cannot produce four male witnesses (not necessarily Muslim but must be credible) to prove his allegations against Anwar, he can be sentenced to three years in jail or fined up to RM5,000, or both.

It is learnt that this is the first case in Malaysia where a man is accusing another man of qazaf.