Between liwat and zina: Did DPP dump fiance for Saiful?
By Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle
As Malaysians digest the latest sexual scandal in town, a debate has swept into town over which is worse – liwat or zina (sodomy or adultery).
“If Saiful’s sexual affair with girl is his personal business, then why not the sodomy trial,” wrote one commentator.
“It is the same isn’t it – zina and liwat. You can say under civil law there is specific provision to ‘hang’ anwar but under syariah law there is also punishment for zina.”
Late on Tuesday, news broke that Farah Azlina Latiff, a deputy public prosecutor, was dropped from the sodomy trial against Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim because of an alleged sexual affair with the complainant in the case – Saiful Bukhair Azlan.
The Attorney-General would only say Farah was being dropped to prevent negative public perception of the prosecution, but Anwar’s lawyers are calling a mistrial.
Citing fundamental conflict of interest, they fear Saiful’s closeness to the DPP has armed him with unfair knowledge and advantage over Anwar.
Indeed the latest buzz making the rounds is that Farah even broke off her engagement to her fiancé just to be with Saiful.
“If true, all this indicates that the relationship was very serious. The fundamental issue is that of a serious conflict of interest and this cannot be resolved by removing her,” Sivarasa said.
“We can understand that this must be a terrible time for her and Saiful but imagine how Anwar and his family must have felt each time the government trumps up these charges against him.”
