Anwar refuses to reveal names of BN MPs ready to cross over in 2008
(The Rakyat Post) – Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today refused to reveal the list of names of Barisan Nasional (BN) Members of Parliament (MPs) who allegedly wanted to cross over to the Opposition for the formation of a new government on Sept 16, 2008.
When asked several times to produce the names by counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who represented Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman during cross-examination, Anwar maintained his stand that he did not want to reveal the names.
Anwar, who is the sole witness in the case, however, said the names would be clear if the party (opposition) could table a vote of non-confidence during the parliamentary sitting, but not through court proceeding.
“It is unethical for me to do so (to produce the list of names). It is difficult for me to produce it,” he said when repeatedly asked by Muhammad Shafee to do so, on the second day of hearing of his suit against Anifah in the High Court here.
Muhammad Shafee: Can Datuk Seri produce the names of 40 MPs that were said to want to cross over to the Opposition parties. Do you have the names?
Anwar: No, I do not have.
Muhammad Shafee: Do you have the 40 names of the MPs?
Anwar: I never said the names were 40. It is impossible to produce it (list of names).
At this juncture, Anwar questioned the lawyer why he was eager to have the names, to which Muhammad Shafee replied that it was for the purpose of testing the credibility of the story on the crossover.
To a suggestion by Muhammad Shafee, Anwar denied that he had used the list of the names as a strategy for the BN MPs to jump over (to the Opposition) but he agreed with the lawyer that he had encouraged the MPs to join PKR.
On May 27, 2009, Anwar filed a RM100 million defamation suit against Anifah and the Malaysian government, alleging that the minister’s remarks at a media conference in Washington, where then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was also present, had tarnished his image.
He accused Anifah of depicting him as a person who was unfit to hold a political or any office and was dangerous to Malaysian society.
Anwar also alleged that the defendant’s remarks which were widely reported in the local and foreign media, had cast imputations on his character and directly and indirectly portrayed him as unethical, unprincipled and corrupt.
The hearing before Judicial Commissioner Siti Khadijah S.Hassan Badjenid continues on Friday.
