KUALA LUMPUR, 8 FEB, 2010: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahims’s eldest daughter Nurul Izzah said that her father’s sodomy trial should end now seeing as there are no proof to the crime allegedly committed by her father.
The Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament was talking to reporters alongside her three younger sisters Nurul Nuha, Nurul Ilham and Nurul Iman after the fourth day of trial.
“If you follow the law, the trial should stop now. There’s nothing (evidence), and on that basis we’ll do our best to keep on supporting and do our best for the family,” Izzah said.
When asked on how the family has been coping with all the media attention on her father’s first trial in 1998, the second eldest, Nuha, said that it’s been difficult when they found out their father is in jail especially when he’s suffering from back pains. However, she is happy that the family’s together and that they’ve been blessed with so many supporters.
“We shall prepare for the worse but we always have to look at it at a positive note and insya’allah everything happens towards its cause. For someone to accuse so nonchalantly is just an utter lie. We pray for the best and we know that our dad is innocent. It’s just bogus what’s happening here in court. I feel that we have his back no matter what,” Nuja adamantly said.
On their PKR President mother Dr Wan Azizah, the siblings said that her is coping well and they all said that she is stronger than ever.
They were also asked about their feelings on the bad press their father has been getting as a result of the trial.
“For us, we mostly read the international news because the local mainstream media cannot be trusted. Of course, some of it is made into a joke but now we know how Malaysians truly feel and how the trial is utterly disgusting,” said Nuha.
Why should it (bother us)? We are behind our father because we know he’s right. We have medical proof, we have everything and yet they want to convict (him) based on what? They have nothing. Just a testimony from a compulsive liar. It’s baseless,” Nuha added.
Izzah also revealed that being a young mother of two augmented her maternal instinct which strengthened her will to protect not only the family but her constituent.
“I will do my best to play my role for the Reform movement. We have so many people, especially the younger generation in the party, like Nik Nazmi and Amiruddin. There are a lot of Malaysian leaders who are and will be there for the party. This is not a struggle of one man and one personality. This is a struggle that has to go on because it’s very relevant for the future of Malaysia,” Izzah said
Izzah further said that they had a very successful congregation of supporters the night before and stressed on the importance in strengthening Keadilan’s leadership by coming together.
“A lot of Members of Parliament came to show sincerity to prove that we have a leadership and we do have people coming in. And if whatever is needed in terms of assistance I am a soldier of the party and the movement and if everyone sticks to that line than we will be safe.
On the expectation for the family and the Keadilan to be more prepared for this second sodomy trial, Izzah said that 1998 was a good practice and that the family and their supporters will keep on fighting for Anwar.
“It will be less tumultuous this time around, god willing. People can see through what is happening so I’m sure these kind of support will be there to ensure that he does not spend time in prison.”
Anwar’s sodomy trial was postponed after the defence team applied for Justice Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah to recuse himself from hearing the case.
The defence team made the application because it was not satisfied with the presiding judge's decision in declining to cite Malay daily Utusan Malaysia for contempt of court in the ongoing trial.
The application will be heard at 9.30am tomorrow.
Anwar, 63, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor and Permatang Pauh member of parliament, is charged with sodomising Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan at Unit 11-5-1 Desa Damansara Condominium, Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara, between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.
He is charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code and faces up to 20 years in jail and whipping upon conviction.
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