At least, for now, our Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim is safe and since 6:45pm just now, has returned to his own residence after leaving the Turkish Embassy which he has taken refuge early Sunday morning.
He told journalists that he had decided to leave after getting assurances for his safety from three ministers – Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, Foreign Minister Rais Yatim and Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak.
“I’ve decided to leave after getting assurances from the statements of the foreign minister, the home minister and the deputy prime minister,” said a rather fresh-looking Anwar.
“I pray enough will be done for my security,” he told reporters after emerging from the ambassador’s residence.
Anwar added that the sodomy allegations were meant to derail the announcement of a by-election in which he would be contesting to pave the way for his return to Parliament.
Anwar also claimed that four parliamentarians from the ruling Barisan Nasional component parties – of whom two were from Umno – will be defecting to the opposition Pakatan Rakyat this week.
“This week, I was supposed to announce which constituency I was going to contest in and the four Barisan Nasional parliamentarians who are going to join us. As such, they’ve had to act now (with regards to the sodomy charge by a so-call MOLE in PKR against him).
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.”
