Anwar Ibrahim left the Turkish ambassador’s residence
Pressmen surrounding the vehicle in which Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim left the Turkish ambassador’s residence in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. |
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim left the Turkish ambassador’s residence here yesterday evening, about 36 hours after he arrived pleading that his life was in danger.
He was picked up from the residence by his wife, opposition leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, at 6.45pm after a statement by Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar that his personal safety was assured.
Earlier, Dr Wan Azizah said her husband would only come out of hiding if his safety was guaranteed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Leaving the compound in a black multipurpose vehicle, Anwar gave an impromptu press conference thanking the Turkish ambassador for “his kindness and hospitality”.
“I was here because I absolutely could not trust the local police force to protect my personal safety.”
According to Turkish officials, Anwar turned up at the ambassador’s residence on Sunday morning asking to be admitted into the compound for a temporary period.
He told the Turkish embassy that he was being threatened by certain high-ranking government officials and asked to stay “until certain issues regarding his personal safety are addressed”.
“His wish was granted on humanitarian grounds,” the embassy said in a statement.
At no time and under no circumstances was an invitation extended to Anwar to take refuge at the embassy, it said.
Anwar denied that he was forced to leave the ambassador’s residence due to pressure from Wisma Putra.
“I left on my own volition, after hearing from the Turkish ambassador that Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim had assured him of my safety.
“That assurance was then confirmed by Syed Hamid’s statement in Parliament. And finally I was persuaded that my personal safety was no longer in question when Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak gave a similar promise, even though the last one wasn’t too convincing.”
Anwar said his distrust towards the police was not directed at the force in general but only at its top leaders.
“I believe that accusations of sodomy were again thrown at me because Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail know that I now have concrete proof to back my claims that the two of them had fabricated evidence in my 1998 trial.”
He also claimed the accusation was timed to “derail” an announcement last weekend that he would be contesting in a by-election.
“Four Barisan Nasional MPs were supposed to join me on stage when I made the announcement.
“I think my enemies knew that and that is why the attacks to tarnish my credibility and reputation have intensified.”
Although he refused to divulge the identity of the four MPs, he claimed two of them were from Umno.
Anwar has said that defections were imminent since the March 8 general election. But none so far has materialised.
He also promised to give his full cooperation to the police in investigating the sodomy allegations against him.
“However, I again state that these accusations against me are baseless and are part of the ploy of conspirators who wish to stop me from bringing political change to the country.”
