KUALA LUMPUR: Like the Hollywood production “Wag the Dog” on the art of spin-doctoring, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim today accused Barisan Nasional's propagandists of penning a similar script.
BN's plot, according to the former deputy premier, centres around terrorists.
Anwar believes that the recent revelation by the government and Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan that terror networks exist in Malaysia was just “propaganda”.
Speaking to reporters in Parliament, he claimed that BN wanted to deflect public attention from controversies such as sports betting, Apco Worldwide and others.
"The issue (terror networks) was not even debated in Parliament but they are tyring to frighten the people by saying that terrorist links exist in the country.
"... where is the evidence? Where is the activity based? If it's true, then why were the terrorists deported without any charges?" he asked.
'Raise it in Parliament'
Musa and the Home Ministry had also revealed that terrorist network Jemaah Islamiah (JI) was courting students from local educational institutions.
Commenting on this, Anwar said the matter should be debated in Parliament during the current sitting.
"Let us scrutinise the evidence. If it's true, we would support he government. We are not bi-partisan when it comes to national security.
"But if this issue is being used to frighten and threaten people and if it is just a part of their propaganda, we would oppose it," he stressed.
'Musa should have kept it under wraps'
Meanwhile, PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar, who was also present at the press conference, said the police chief should have kept such a serious matter under wraps.
"If it concerns national security, why is there a need to announce it to the media and public? He should have just used the legal means available (to tackle the problem). I think that this was just an attempt to protect Umno and BN's political interests,” he added.
On the same note, Mahfuz questioned if Musa's announcement was actually an attempt to remain as police chief despite his contract expiring later this year.
"Is he trying to show to the prime minister that he is needed to protect Umno and BN's political interests?" he asked.
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