Malaysia-Chronicle
DAP chairman Karpal Singh challenged Umno politician Mazlan Ismail, TV3, Utusan Malaysia and the NST to produce evidence of the bank accounts that they alleged proved a trail of payments made to him by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim for the purpose of bribing members of the judiciary so as to ensure Anwar won his court cases.
“The allegations made by TV3 quoting former Umno candidate that RM 50 million was paid to me for the purpose of bribing judges and DPPs (deputy public prosecutors) are made in respect of 6,000 anonymous letters which also said to contain the details of bank accounts … are completely without basis,” an incensed Karpal told a press conference on Sunday.
“I challenge Mazlan if he is “anak jantan” (if he is a man) to reveal these bank accounts and also the identity of the person who furnished him the information, whom he says is supposed to be an ex-employee of mine. I also challenge TV3, Utusan Malaysia, NST to do likewise.”
“Name him, produce the accounts, it is as simple as that.”
Criminal defamation and Sedition
Karpal and Anwar had just returned from lodging a joint police report on the matter.
Both men categorically denied the allegations made by Mazlan and plan to launch lawsuits against the Umno leader, TV3, Utusan and NST next week. All 3 media are controlled by Prime Minister Najib Razak’s Umno party.
According to Karpal, the accusations are “criminal defamation of the highest order” and breached the Sedition Act by stirring public suspicion over the ability of the judiciary to administer justice in the country.
“We vehemently deny the said allegations as being vexatious, malicious and frivolous. Having regard to the serious allegations made against us, the judiciary, DPPs, we call upon the Attorney-General to forthwith direct an indepth investigation into the said allegation,” said Karpal.
Defend the good name of the judiciary
Karpal, one of Malaysia’s best-know lawyers, has often acted as Anwar’s legal counsel in various litigation matters including the notorious Sodomy I and II cases.
The DAP leader called on the Attorney General Gani Patail and the Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria to order an immediate probe and to defend the good name of Malaysia’s legal system.
“Now the Attorney General cannot sit still, he has to spring into action in defense of the judiciary. Likewise the Chief Justice must respond in defense of the judiciary,” said Karpal.
“Now the allegations are one, criminal defamation of the highest order. Two, Sedition, allegations that bring the judiciary into disrepute, that bring the administration of justice into disrepute.
“We intend to in the next few days file actions against TV3 , Utusan and the NST and of course Mazlan himself who is the author of what has transpired and developed into offenses both criminal and civil. The allegations are so serious, I will not sit back and neither will Datuk seri Anwar.”
Mazlan’s allegations
Mazlan, who had unsuccessfully challenged Anwar for the Permatang Pauh seat in Malaysia’s scandal-tainted May 5 general election, had told the press he received “over 6,000 letters on the matter over the past week addressed to my house in Penanti.”
Claiming that he did not know the identity of the sender or senders, Mazlan said each letter was eight pages long and contained allegations as well as copies of savings account numbers of various banks and amounts belonging to Anwar.
“I believe the individual wants me to be the go-between to expose Anwar’s dealings with Karpal. The person wants to expose that Anwar had paid more than RM50 million via cheques to Karpal since 2008,” Umno-controlled newspaper NST had replorted Mazlan as saying.
“He had claimed that besides settling legal fees, the amount was also to allegedly bribe judges and prosecutors. I believe similar letters containing the same allegations against Anwar and Karpal must have already been in circulation in Permatang Pauh.”
Dalam masa yang sama, ketua umum PKR itu mendakwa, badan itu hanya membiarkan pihak yang terlibat dengan rasuah, judi dan pegangan saham syarikat arak.
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