KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim today jumped to Zaid Ibrahim's defence, saying the PKR supreme councillor need not apologise for stating that the Sultan of Selangor could not legally issue a decree banning political speeches in mosques.
Zaid gave his opinion in a blog posting last week, triggering outrage among some right wing Malay rights activists.
Speaking to reporters outside the Kuala Lumpur High Court after his sodomy trial was adjourned, Anwar said Zaid was speaking from the perspective of a lawyer well versed in the Federal Constitution.
Umno and Malay-based NGOs have blasted Zaid for "questioning" the Sultan's alleged decree.
In his article, Zaid said the sultan was giving his "personal view" which, he added, could be regarded as “good advice” to be heeded by everyone. He said a decree would have to be gazetted by the State Religious Council.
Outraged activists lodged numerous police reports against him and burned an effigy depicting him as a traitor and a drunkard. The Malay NGO Perkasa has demanded that he apologise.
Anwar said Zaid — who was the de facto law minister when he resigned from the federal Cabinet — was merely interpreting the constitution, which Dr Mahathir Mohamad amended in 1983, resulting in the loss of some of the powers of the Malay rulers.
“Those who insulted the palaces back then were Kelantan Umno leaders,” Anwar added. “You can check the Parliament Hansard.”
He said it would be better for Zaid’s detractors to debate openly with him as gentlemen than to “hide behind the palace”.
Zaid said on Saturday that he was prepared to meet the Sultan to clarify the contents of his blog posting.
He said he would not apologise because he was “just expressing an opinion" and the demand for the apology came from Perkasa and not the Sultan.
PM should be a witness at trial
Anwar said he was grateful that the defence team has established from Mohd Saiful's testimony that the prime minister was involved "in the conspiracy".
He said it was clear that a political conspiracy was at work as Mohd Saiful had testified today that he had met a high ranking police officer after meeting the prime minister and just before lodging a police report on the alleged sodomy.
Anwar said he hoped the prime minister will not use his influence in not appearing in the court as a witness.
The opposition leader further cried foul on the "unprofessional conduct" displayed by the prosecution team by failing to provide his defence team the full list of witnesses.
"Karpal said this is the first time in 40 years that the prosecution refused to provide the witnesses list. We have not yet found one incident or a case where the list has not been given.
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