Anwar deserves an Oscar, says Muhyiddin

(NST) – BETONG: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday that Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should get an Oscar award.

He said the opposition leader had made the injury he received in Saturday’s illegal street demonstration worse than it seemed.

He said Anwa r ’s injuries could have been self-inflicted to give him an excuse to discredit the government and the police.

“Anwar should be given an Oscar for making what is not true look like the truth. We expected him to twist the facts to suit his goals,” Muhyiddin said after attending the national-level Gawai Dayak open house at Rumah Wilson Begat Anak Bakir, in Penom, Ulu Paku, here.

Anwar was said to have suffered a bruise on his head and a cut leg as a result of police firing tear gas at protesters near where he was.

He said the chaos that broke out caused him to fall.

“I saw him on YouTube looking frail in a hospital bed. An hour later, I was told he was up and about, at the home of the protester who had died, paying his last respects and looking fine and healthy.” Muhyiddin said he had expected Anwar and the opposition to capitalise on the incident as “this was not the first time (it had happened)”.

“There were no extreme police actions in the area, nor was he attacked by the police or targeted by the police.” He said police were investigating the circumstances that led to Anwar getting injured.

“Did he fall because of police action? Was it selfinflicted or did he walk into a glass wall?” He said policewould make a statement on Anwar’s injury and the death of protester Baharudin Ahmad.

Muhyiddin said Anwar, the opposition and rally organisers Bersih had distorted the facts on what had happened during the rally. “We expected it. We knew from the beginning that it would happen.” He praised the police for showing “great restraint” in their handling of the rally.

He said the death of the demonstrator was not because of police brutality, as claimed by the opposition.

He said the opposition distorted the death to gain sympathy by portraying the government and the police as brutal.

Muhyiddin said street demonstrations were not part of Malaysian culture and would never be as the majority of people were against them.

“It is not something we do. So what happened shows that they (the protesters) do not have respect for the law.” He accused Bersih of showing disrespect by lying to the king when they had promised that theywould not take to the streets.