Sodomy II as an election campaign? No thank you, says Penang Umno

(UPDATE)SEBERANG JAYA, Aug 5 — What will Umno leaders do to prevent Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from returning to Parliament through the upcoming Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election?

Although to some of them, the Sodomy II allegations seem to be the likely answer, Penang Umno leaders are hesitant to admit whether they would play up the issue during the election campaign period.

Penang opposition leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim, who is also the state Umno secretary, assured voters that he would not use the new sodomy allegations against Anwar for the Barisan Nasional election campaign.

"Personally I will not use the allegation while campaigning. But I cannot guarantee others would not use it. During the campaign, not only Umno members from Penang will be here," he told The Malaysian Insider.

He said the state BN would resort to a clean election campaign to ensure a fair victory for the federal ruling coalition.

He was confident of wresting the seat despite the odds of having to contest in Parti Keadilan Rakyat's stronghold.

PKR de facto leader Anwar was the MP since 1982 until he was sacked and jailed in 1998. His wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail took over a year later and held the seat until her resignation last week to make way for her husband to contest the by-election.

All signs point to Permatang Pauh.

"Let the court decide on the sodomy issue," said Permatang Pauh Umno division chief Datuk Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid.

He said Umno election machinery was prepared to face Anwar as the party had already expected Wan Azizah to vacate the seat.

Abdul Jalil, however, dare not predict the outcome of the by-election. "I leave it to God."

He was the BN candidate for the Penanti state seat under the Permatang Pauh constituency who lost to PKR's Mohd Fairus Khairudin, who is now Penang deputy chief minister.

"I have offered myself for the seat but even if I'm not selected to be the candidate, I'll work hard to ensure BN's victory. Let the leaders decide on candidates; I am a party worker and I will work hard," he added.

Another Permatang Pauh Umno leader, Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, who is among the 11 all-Umno opposition representatives in the 40-member state assembly, is confident that Anwar can be defeated.

"We have ways to convince the people to vote for BN. Voters have realised that the Pakatan Rakyat is only good with promises but have yet to deliver them," said the two-term Seberang Jaya state assemblyman.

He was also disappointed with Wan Azizah's resignation merely to allow her husband to contest, saying that there was no need for the by-election because "this is the time to serve the people".

He too agreed that the Sodomy II allegations should be separated from the by-election campaign and be left to the relevant authorities.

Despite the Umno leaders' assurance, some PKR leaders are not convinced as they are expecting a dirty election campaign.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they come up with doctored pictures of Datuk Seri Anwar," said Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Sim Tze Tzin, who warned the opponent to play it clean because the by-election would be watched closely by many quarters.

He added that the by-election would be a chance for the government to prove that democratic principles are respected.

State Exco member Abdul Malik Kassim, who also Batu Maung assemblyman, is also convinced the BN would exploit the sodomy allegations.

"I believe it is going to be used as they have no other issues. But we are not worried as we have more important issues to highlight," he said.

Both the PKR representatives are confident of their leader's victory but admit that they have to work harder to fend off an all-out BN political onslaught.

For local resident Marok Mastan, 35, he is confident of Anwar's victory. He too believes that the sodomy allegations would be the highlight of the BN's campaign.

"But I personally don't believe in these allegations," said the self-employed Permatang Pauh voter.

Another voter Raymond Lee, 43, is not interested at all in Sodomy II, claiming that he did not even read about it the newspapers or on the Internet.

"My only concern is the sluggish stock market. I don't know whether I will have enough for my retirement. I think some changes are necessary," he added.

He only offered a smile when asked who he would likely vote for.

-TMI