The New Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR: Pas vice-president Salahuddin Ayub yesterday became the first prominent opposition leader to publicly support the call for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the sex video clip.
Amid the varying stance and ideas being put forth, Salahuddin, the Kubang Kerian member of parliament, told the New Straits Times:
"In principle, I agree (to the RCI) but I want to see the terms and conditions first as well as the composition of its members," said Salahuddin yesterday when contacted in Sarawak.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said he would table a proposal to set up a RCI to investigate a sex video clip implicating an opposition leader in the cabinet today.
The published views of opposition personalities had ranged from one calling for the video to be aired in Parliament as suggested by DAP chairman Karpal Singh to the call for the prosecution of "Datuk T" (trio) who had unveiled the video clip.
There is also this emerging view that the opposition would lose its credibility if their leaders were not interested in supporting the RCI.
A major advocate of this position has been Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (KITA) president Datuk Zaid Ibrahim who had viewed the full-version of the video.
The former supreme council member of Pakatan Rakyat Keadilan (PKR) wanted a full, independent inquiry to determine the "truth, or otherwise" of the video.
Zaid who is in Paris, e-mailed the New Straits Times his statement yesterday and said the video had caused national shame and embarrassment.
"Malaysians must not live with a lie, no matter how convenient. If the video is a fabrication, then those responsible must be punished.
"And if Barisan Nasional is responsible for the mischief, then they forfeit the right to govern by resorting to such shameless acts.
"Likewise, if (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim) is the man in the video, then he must step down from his position as Opposition leader. It's the only option that's available to him."
Zaid said the question of whether Anwar's wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail kept her husband's Omega wristwatch would be cleared by the RCI.
"As for the Omega watch, I saw one that was showed to me after watching the video but I can't say why Wan Azizah is not prepared to show the one she has, if indeed it's true she has the watch," said Zaid.
A member of the "Datuk T" trio, Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah, had claimed to the media that he had kept an Omega watch belonging to Anwar, which was allegedly stolen by a foreign prostitute in the sex video.
On the setting up of the RCI, Hulu Selangor member of parliament P. Kamalanathan said it should be done as the independent body's finding would not be challenged.
"If it (the result of the investigation) comes from any other body, then they, (the opposition) will not believe it. The RCI will be fair and it can clear the names of those implicated and even ascertain the identity of those in the video."
But Kamalanathan said all parties involved must be ready to accept the RCI's findings.
Wangsa Maju member of parliament Wee Choo Keong criticised Karpal who recently said that the RCI should not be set up for "inconsequential matters", as it is set up to look into issues of momentous proportions.
"If this issue is not of momentous proportions, then why did Karpal postpone his court case on Tuesday to attend the press conference at Wan Azizah's house? Why did he suggest for the clip to be screened in Parliament?
"This allegation involves the opposition leader who is touted to become the 7th prime minister of the country," said Wee. He said the government had no choice but to push for the RCI or risk being seen to be afraid to find the truth.
"Anwar had lodged a report and went to a 'ceramah', claiming it was a conspiracy. Meanwhile, the police will always be seen as a government conspirator, so the RCI is a must."
Wee added that Anwar's alibi of being at home with his wife, children and grandchildren on Feb 21 this year when the video was allegedly recorded, was also flawed.
"Why did Wan Azizah finally consent to watching the YouTube version after saying no?" said Wee, who was formerly a PKR MP.
KUALA LUMPUR: Pas vice-president Salahuddin Ayub yesterday became the first prominent opposition leader to publicly support the call for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the sex video clip.
Amid the varying stance and ideas being put forth, Salahuddin, the Kubang Kerian member of parliament, told the New Straits Times:
"In principle, I agree (to the RCI) but I want to see the terms and conditions first as well as the composition of its members," said Salahuddin yesterday when contacted in Sarawak.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said he would table a proposal to set up a RCI to investigate a sex video clip implicating an opposition leader in the cabinet today.
The published views of opposition personalities had ranged from one calling for the video to be aired in Parliament as suggested by DAP chairman Karpal Singh to the call for the prosecution of "Datuk T" (trio) who had unveiled the video clip.
There is also this emerging view that the opposition would lose its credibility if their leaders were not interested in supporting the RCI.
A major advocate of this position has been Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (KITA) president Datuk Zaid Ibrahim who had viewed the full-version of the video.
The former supreme council member of Pakatan Rakyat Keadilan (PKR) wanted a full, independent inquiry to determine the "truth, or otherwise" of the video.
Zaid who is in Paris, e-mailed the New Straits Times his statement yesterday and said the video had caused national shame and embarrassment.
"Malaysians must not live with a lie, no matter how convenient. If the video is a fabrication, then those responsible must be punished.
"And if Barisan Nasional is responsible for the mischief, then they forfeit the right to govern by resorting to such shameless acts.
"Likewise, if (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim) is the man in the video, then he must step down from his position as Opposition leader. It's the only option that's available to him."
Zaid said the question of whether Anwar's wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail kept her husband's Omega wristwatch would be cleared by the RCI.
"As for the Omega watch, I saw one that was showed to me after watching the video but I can't say why Wan Azizah is not prepared to show the one she has, if indeed it's true she has the watch," said Zaid.
A member of the "Datuk T" trio, Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah, had claimed to the media that he had kept an Omega watch belonging to Anwar, which was allegedly stolen by a foreign prostitute in the sex video.
On the setting up of the RCI, Hulu Selangor member of parliament P. Kamalanathan said it should be done as the independent body's finding would not be challenged.
"If it (the result of the investigation) comes from any other body, then they, (the opposition) will not believe it. The RCI will be fair and it can clear the names of those implicated and even ascertain the identity of those in the video."
But Kamalanathan said all parties involved must be ready to accept the RCI's findings.
Wangsa Maju member of parliament Wee Choo Keong criticised Karpal who recently said that the RCI should not be set up for "inconsequential matters", as it is set up to look into issues of momentous proportions.
"If this issue is not of momentous proportions, then why did Karpal postpone his court case on Tuesday to attend the press conference at Wan Azizah's house? Why did he suggest for the clip to be screened in Parliament?
"This allegation involves the opposition leader who is touted to become the 7th prime minister of the country," said Wee. He said the government had no choice but to push for the RCI or risk being seen to be afraid to find the truth.
"Anwar had lodged a report and went to a 'ceramah', claiming it was a conspiracy. Meanwhile, the police will always be seen as a government conspirator, so the RCI is a must."
Wee added that Anwar's alibi of being at home with his wife, children and grandchildren on Feb 21 this year when the video was allegedly recorded, was also flawed.
"Why did Wan Azizah finally consent to watching the YouTube version after saying no?" said Wee, who was formerly a PKR MP.
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