‘Attempt to rape attention from sodomy’

KUALA LUMPUR: Information Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim, who has been accused of raping his Indonesian maid three years ago, has denied the allegation.

The 69-year-old Umno MP dismissed the allegation as wicked lies peddled by bloggers and opposition politicians.

In an obvious swipe at Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, Rais said his political rivals were hoping to use such baseless allegations to divert attention from the bigger crimes involving opposition leaders, such as sodomy.

“I refute the allegations, whether they are about raping any individual four years ago (2007) or any other allegation, raised by bloggers by any political entity,” he said in a statement.

He said these “wild allegations” were libellous and awful.

Rais also said that he was prepared to be investigated over the matter, adding that he and his family members would extend their full cooperation.

“I state readily that any report by anyone so far related to this matter should be investigated under the country’s laws,” he added.

The allegation had prompted PAS and an NGO, Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM), to lodge separate police reports.

Both PAS and SAMM demanded a police investigation and urged Rais to clear his name or resign from his positions as a minister and the MP for Jelebu.

The allegation was based on a purported WikiLeaks disclosure that former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had allegedly covered up the case.

‘Cheap political gimmick’

Commenting on this, Rais said implicating Abdullah and former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan as not being interested in pursuing the matter, was a “cheap political gimmick to confuse the people since the issue was never raised with the two inviduals”.

“The reports are a political manifestation designed to tarnish my name as a member of the government,” he said, adding that he had an untainted 40-year service record.

The minister said it was clear that the allegations were aimed at soiling his name and image as well as his efforts to promote Barisan Nasional policies, namely Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s 1Malaysia concept.

“The opposition and certain quarters who are unhappy with the success of the concept are attempting to damage it by spreading such cheap lies. They believe that by killing the messenger, their vile plan will be achieved,” he added.

Furthermore, he said such issues were created to be used as “spears” by their political rivals to kill the political struggle of BN, especially with a by-election and general election looming.