Sodomy claim is back just as Anwar's star is rising

By Carolyn Hong, The Straits Times

The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition is fighting for its survival, and the leadership struggle has witnessed a seemingly unending series of intrigues and plots.

WHEN text messages began circulating late on Saturday evening that an aide of former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim had lodged a police report accusing him of sodomy, Malaysians were stunned.

It brought back memories of 1998, when Datuk Seri Anwar faced exactly the same accusations. That sparked an upheaval which changed Malaysia's politics in ways that were impossible to foresee then.

Now, it would appear that Malaysia has come back to exactly the same point; just like a decade ago, Mr Anwar now faces sensational accusations just when his star is rising and seems unstoppable.

Ten years ago, then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad sacked Mr Anwar, his deputy and heir apparent, on the grounds that he had sodomised several of his employees, who had reported the alleged deed.

Today, it is an aide - some say he was no more than a party volunteer - Mr Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 23, who is claiming that the opposition leader had sodomised him, without his consent.... selanjutnya.