Utusan compares Anwar to Strauss-Kahn

Mingguan Malaysia today compared PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim to Dominique Strauss-Kahn who recently stepped down as the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) following rape allegations.

Using the pen-name Awang Selamat, the newspaper, which is the Sunday edition of Utusan Malaysia, criticised Anwar for not stepping down from various positions held, as Strauss-Kahn did.

"Strangely, in Malaysia, it is very different in cases involving Anwar," said the newspaper.

Utusan said that Anwar (right) had refused to step down as opposition leader, even after the prosecution alleged that he his DNA matched that of 'Male Y', the code name used to describe the DNA profile retrieved from semen samples found on Saiful Bukhari Azlan's rectum.

"It is even stranger when a sex video involving a opposition leader which looks like him with a prostitute is (allegedly) proven authentic by South Korean and American experts, Anwar still wants to straighten a wet sewing thread.

"In reality, Anwar has shamed the people of Malaysia and Muslims. Never in history of modern politics the opposition has been led by someone with such a bad moral record.

"This is happening in Malaysia. It is (allegedly) proven that Anwar is the individual in the video but there are those who can be fooled or want to be fooled," wrote the newspaper.

PAS should move away from Anwar

Strauss-Kahn was arrested following accusations that he had sexually assaulted a hotel chambermaid in New York.

Following his arrest, he resigned from his IMF position to concentrate on his defence.

Mingguan Malaysia said that in this case, the American prosecutor's justice system should be an example for Malaysia.

In view of this, the daily urged PAS to no longer associate itself with Anwar.

"As a party which uses Islam as a label, they should look after its image and the sanctity of the religion," it said.

Of late, Umno and Utusan Malaysia has been courting PAS yet again, ahead of the latter's internal elections to be held in July, in hope that the party would join BN.

'Where was PKR Youth?'

Meanwhile, the newspaper also extended its appreciation to Malay rights pressure group Perkasa and other groups who rallied in defence of the daily on Friday.

"PKR Youth, who caused a ruckus at a mosque in Sentul and the court recently, did not show up at our office as planned.

"They had threatened to hold a demonstration against Utusan because they failed to draw a crowd and were aware they would bump into a lot of Utusan supporters.

"Immediately after knowing that PKR Youth had cancelled their demonstration, Awang was told, thousands of activists in support of Utusan did not show up.

"Their purpose was merely to face PKR Youth for Utusan's sake," wrote Awang.

During the Friday rally, about 100 demonstrators involving Perkasa and Umno Youth members voice their support for Utusan.

PKR Youth had initially planned a rally of their own during the same time and venue to protest against what they claim to be biased reporting against the opposition and the daily's apparent tendency to stir up racial and religious sentiments.

The movement however backed out at the eleventh hour, claiming that they don't want trouble with rival groups and were more keen on joining the protest against the Lynas Advance Materials Plant (LAMP) across town.