Pakatan says sex video will backfire on Umno

source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/pakatan-says-sex-video-will-backfire-on-umno/
By Melissa ChiMarch 23, 2011
March 23, 2011
 

Datuk Shazryl Eskay (L), with Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik, is known to have once been a member of Anwar’s inner circle. — Pic by Choo Choy May

    Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders predicted a backlash today for Umno after Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik admitted that businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay, Perkasa’s Datuk Shuib Lazim, and himself were behind Monday’s screening of a sex video allegedly featuring Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The sex video scandal surfaced early on Monday when a mysterious “Datuk T”, had shown to journalists a black-and-white video of a man performing sexual acts with a woman of apparently East Asian origin in a hotel room, dated February 21.

The PKR de facto leader had since came out to deny that he was the man in the video, backed by his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as well as his fellow opposition leaders.

Anwar had later pointed the finger at Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for conspiring against him.

Today, opposition leaders jumped on the fact that the trio was linked to Umno, calling it a political attack to distract voters from “real issues”.

Selangor DAP vice chairman, Charles Santiago told The Malaysian Insider that it came as no surprise that the people behind the screening of the video are linked to Umno.

“From day one, people knew it was Umno, it’s just that people didn’t know which faction of Umno it was coming from and so it was obvious that this was the Mahathir faction that seems to be involved in this episode.

“I think it’s an overkill and I think there is going to be a backlash,” he said.

PAS Shah Alam MP, Khalid Samad, said that this fiasco was “clearly politically motivated” when there are former Umno leaders actively involved.

“It was done purely to make sure Anwar is out of the picture and it will backfire on them.

“I think basically we just have to say that they are going to go all out to create the perception that Anwar is a sex-crazy individual who has no control over his sexual desire,” he said.

Abdul Rahim is a former Malacca chief minister who was charged with statutory rape of a minor in 1994, but the public prosecutor later withdrew the charge citing lack of evidence. He is now the chairman of RISDA.

Shazryl was known to be formerly in Anwar’s inner circle. He is currently the plaintiff in the case that was filed in January 2002, claiming a breach of contract by Merong Mahawangsa Sdn Bhd and Datuk Yahya A. Jalil — for failing to pay him RM20 million after he had procured the Johor crooked bridge project for them.

Perkasa treasurer, Shuib, was a former Sungai Petani Umno division leader, and is Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd. Shafie Apdal’s father-in-law.

PKR communications director, Nik Nazmi, said that the continuous political attack against its de facto leader was getting tiresome.

“This is to show that Anwar is morally incapable and a hypocrite, although you don’t know what the pattern is, whether he is gay, a womaniser or a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.

“This shows that what we are saying, made up to smear Anwar, as he is seen to be the biggest threat to Umno” he said.

He said that people were getting tired of such political ploys.

Santiago said that today was a “great day” for the opposition because there was “ample proof now that this has been doctored” and this is a propaganda tool of the “desperate Umno boys because only desperados will do something like this”.

“If you want to knock off your opponent, it is through policy debates, it’s through various development policies and so on, that you outsmart the other guy there. That’s the advantage that you bring but here you want to be a sleazeball and by doing this, you think people are going to support you. People will not because they voted for a prime minister, they vote for an opposition leader, they don’t vote for the best husbands in the world, or the best fathers in the world.

“As a voter, you vote for the candidate that you think will bring about change in the government, that will bring about progress for the people, development for the people. That’s who people vote for, not for sleazeballs,” he said.

Rahim, Shazryl behind sex video

source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/rahim-shazryl-says-was-behind-sex-video/
UPDATED @ 06:57:17 AM 24-03-2011
By Debra Chon

March 23, 2011

Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik (R) and Datuk Shazryl Eskay at today’s press conference. — Pic by Choo Choy May

Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik admitted today that businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay, Perkasa’s Datuk Shuib Lazim and himself were collectively the mysterious “Datuk T” behind Monday’s screening of a sex video allegedly featuring Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The former Malacca chief minister also admitted that both he and Shazryl were behind the video.

He told reporters at a joint press conference together with Shazryl that the trio had chosen to step forward on their own accord because they wanted to show that “a person with high ambitions of wanting to be national leader and prime minister of Malaysia … was not qualified.”

“This matter is important, especially to Muslims because they will not accept a person without … honour, integrity … to represent them,” he said, adding that they would fully cooperate with the police on the matter.

Shuib was absent from the news conference.

Abdul Rahim and Shazryl both denied the video was doctored.

“I am 100 per cent convinced because it’s me in the tape. I am in the tape. Why should I lie?” Shazryl shot back.

However, he ignored reporters when asked why he happened to be in the room where the sex act had been recorded.

Abdul Rahim, who turns 61 next month, repeatedly denied he was doing this out of vengeance against Anwar, whom he said had lied and forced him to quit his chief minister post years ago over the alleged statutory rape of a minor.

“It’s a coincidence. He had asked me to resign last time, so now I just want Anwar to follow in my footsteps,” he told reporters when questioned about the strategic timing of the sex expose.

He said the trio had wanted to screen the video two weeks ago, but could not find a suitable place to do so.

Abdul Rahim said Anwar had given him his marching orders in 1994, claiming they came from then-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Shazryl describes himself as a friend to Anwar — Pic by Choo Choy May

    Shazryl describes himself as a friend to Anwar. — Pic by Choo Choy May“He lied. Dr Mahathir told me he did not give them,” the former Umno vice-president once allied to Dr Mahathir said.

Anwar was deputy prime minister from 1993 until he was sacked under a cloud of sex and corruption charges in 1998.

Shazryl, who described himself as a friend to Anwar, added that Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul — nephew to Shuib and known to be a close associate of Anwar — was also convinced it was the PKR de facto chief after watching the video on Monday afternoon.

“When Johari came in, he said, ‘That’s him’,” Shazryl told reporters today.

The businessman who is party to a lawsuit in an ongoing trial over Malaysia’s “crooked bridge” to Singapore suggested that Johari had changed his story after failing in his demand for money.

Shazryl said Johari had demanded RM1 million per person to draw seven PKR MPs with him to cross over to Umno.

He denied PKR’s claims today that he had gone public with the sex expose in a bid to blackmail Anwar.

“If I wanted to blackmail, I would have gone straight to Anwar,” said Shazryl who said he was a whistleblower but was being punished publicly.

He also denied he had a falling-out with Anwar and was seeking revenge.

He added that he was worried for his safety now and hopes the police would contact him soon as he had only that one recording of the sex video.

Asked why he did not go to the police instead, Shazryl said: “I don’t know where to go.”

The former Malacca chief minister denies pursuing a vendetta against Anwar. — Pic by Choo Choy MayAbdul Rahim, who turns 61 next month, repeatedly denied he was doing this out of vengeance against Anwar, whom he said had lied and forced him to quit his chief minister post years ago over the alleged statutory rape of a minor.

Abdul Rahim also said that PKR Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul had demanded money to defect after the latter was shown the video on Monday afternoon.

The former Malacca CM also urged Putrajaya to set up a royal commission to investigate the authenticity of the video.

Abdul Rahim said the royal commission’s members should comprise opposition lawmakers, and named Anwar’s wife and PKR president, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as foremost on the list.

He added that the panel should include law and forensic experts from outside the country, such as from Singapore, Australia and India, as well.

Johari had suggested earlier today that businessman Shazryl was the mysterious “Datuk T”, and that Abdul Rahim was among those behind the screening of a sex video.

Johari also accused the two men of attempting to entice him and other PKR MPs to defect after he had viewed the recording, which he said was of a person who only vaguely resembled Anwar.

According to Johari, Abdul Rahim had also promised to bring him to see Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak after he had viewed the sex video.

Anwar has already accused Najib of being directly involved with the screening of the sex video.

ISC to sue those claiming ownership of ‘Malaysia, Truly Asia’

source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/isc-to-sue-those-claiming-ownership-of-malaysia-truly-asia/
By Clara ChooiMarch 23, 2011
March 23, 2011

ISC continues to challenge Ng Yen Yen with its graft allegations.

    The Tourism Ministry’s former advertising agency vowed today to undertake a “worldwide suit” against those staking claim over its creation of the award-winning “Malaysia, Truly Asia” campaign.

Integrated Strategic Communications (ISC) insisted that it had both conceived and produced the campaign for the past 12 years and earned 40 awards for its effectiveness, despite a recent claim by former Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir that the initiative had been his.

The agency also warned that its lawyers and nearly all participants involved during its live presentation of “Malaysia, Truly Asia” to Tourism Malaysia in June 21, 1999, were prepared to testify under oath that it was ISC that had started the campaign.

“It was the ISC agency group which conceived and produced the campaign and no one else, and [ISC] will undertake a worldwide suit against those falsely claiming otherwise,” the agency said in a statement today.

It also continued to challenge Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen with its graft allegations, claiming this time that the Tourism Minister was fully aware of the “ambiguities and irregularities” involved in a recent contract tender, which it had originally been bidding for.

The agency had, however, withdrawn its bid on January 26 this year, claiming the process was fraught with dubious practices.

ISC founder and chief executive officer Austen Zecha claimed that Ng had called on the agency yesterday to reveal all complainants on the matter but rubbished the request as a “grandiose offer” and an exercise in “redundancy, if not futility”.

“The Tourism Minister fully knew what ambiguity or irregularities were involved in the recent tender process from which the ISC agency group withdrew in January, well before the decision on the five eventual winners was made in February,” he said in the statement.

Another ISC spokesperson said that Ng’s offer was similar to urging the “offending party” to investigate its own offences.

“Hello, is anyone home?” the spokesperson said in the statement.

The spokesperson added that Ng’s purported attempt at “smoke-screening” was ineffective as the minister’s statements were only printed in one newspaper that is owned by her political party.

Ng is the vice-president of MCA, the second largest component party in the ruling Barisan Nasional, which also owns leading English daily, The Star newspaper.

“And one can only wonder at the pathetic intelligence of those who seem to be trying their best at ‘spin-controlling’ this sad issue for both the current ‘administration’ of Tourism Malaysia, or the Ministry, and the newspaper owned by the Minister’s political party.

“Whoever or whatever group it is needs to start by learning to have a full and thorough grasp of all the facts, the dates and their chronology, and the history of our country’s tourism body before even trying to cover-up the recent misdeeds and questionable tracks,” the spokesperson said.

Instead of deflecting the accusations made against her, Zecha said Ng should come clean on the numerous allegations raised by the ISC since it withdrew its tender.

Among others, he reminded, the ISC had urged the ministry to explain why the agency had only been allowed to bill Tourism Malaysia RM3 million for work done in the past two years when its contract was worth RM18 million each year.

At the same time, Zecha accused the ministry of undertaking more direct bookings in Europe without explaining itself or revealing the benefactors of such an action.

“There has been no explanation to-date on why this was done or who authourised that and who benefitted from the standard commissions which would have gone to an agency duly registered with our Treasury,” he said.

Zecha also questioned the charge against Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab Beg for allegedly misappropriating RM888,000 for a project in Dubai in August last year.

The charge, he alleged, had been made barely three hours after the closing of all tender submissions for the RM381 million three-year advertising and promotions contract that ISC was attempting to renew at the time.

Zecha continued that this blocked Mirza from exercising his responsibility of chairing Tourism Malaysia’s agency selection panel, which he said was according to the customary criteria for both the bidding agencies’ qualifications and the shortlisted ones’ live presentations.

“And, pray tell, who in the Treasury told the ministry not to bother with such professionally called for ‘live’ presentations, as the minister recently stated?” he asked.

Zecha had recently alleged that both he and his deputy were jointly approached on January 19 to “offer the client” (the ministry) a 50 per cent “rebate” or an annual share of the firm’s income from the account.

In exchange, he said, ISC would then renew another three-year Tourism Malaysia contract for the Europe, North America and Oceania tender.

“This essentially led ISC to decide to withdraw its tender on Wednesday, January 26,” Zecha had said last week.

Shazryl aka Datuk T offered to get crooked bridge deal, says contractor

source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/shazryl-aka-datuk-t-offered-to-get-crooked-bridge-deal-says-contractor/
By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani
March 23, 2011
   

   Executive director and major of shareholder Merong Mahawangsa, Datuk Yahya A. Jalil (picture), denied today that he sought help from Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and told the High Court that the plaintiff had voluntarily offered his services instead.

Shazryl, the plaintiff in the case, had filed the suit in January 2002, claiming a breach of contract by defendants — Merong Mahawangsa Sdn Bhd and Yahya — for failing to pay him RM20 million after he had procured the rights to the Malaysia-Singapore International Gateway (SIG) bridge project.

He was also named today as one of three persons behind the mysterious entity “Datuk T” who had screened a sex video allegedly featuring Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Shazryl had earlier testified that, in addition to approaching the late Tan Sri Megat Junid Megat Ayub for help, he had also helped Yahya gain access to then-deputy prime minister, Anwar.

Yahya admitted today to having a casual meeting with Anwar at the former minister’s house with Shazryl in 1998 but couldn’t recollect discussing the bridge.

“I cannot remember if I brought this blueprint (Malaysia-Singapore International Gateway) to Anwar,” he said.

“The purpose of meeting him was because Datuk Shazryl Eskay said he was able to help,” he added.

Yahya added that he could not remember if he had promised 16.6 per cent of shares in Merong Mahawangsa to Shazryl.

He also denied that he had requested help from Shazryl for access to foreign funding for the project.

He also did not agree that Shazryl had helped him in the letters to Anwar, Megat Junid and Economic Planning Unit (EPU) on the SIG project.

However, Yahya agreed that his company, Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd, was paid RM155 million by the government for the Gerbang Selatan Bersepadu (GSB) project in Bukit Chagar, Johor Bahru — the new location of the customs, immigration and quarantine complex.

But Yahya was quick to stress that GSB was different from SIG bridge project.

He also acknowledged to not paying the RM20 million agreed to Shazryl as the conditions were not met in the letter of undertaking.

According to the letter, the agreement is void if the project is withdrawn or no longer “sustainable.”

Plaintiff’s counsel Datuk C.V Prabhakaran argued that the SIG was mutually terminated and that Merong Mahawangsa had received compensation.

Gerbang Perdana’s financial director, Azhar Abdul Aziz, later testified to explain that the SIG and GSB are two different projects — the former was a privatisation exercise while the latter a design-build, turnkey contract.

“The SIG is a bridge from Johor to Singapore but the plan was discarded in 2001 and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had instructed it be changed in its entirety,” said Azhar.

Azhar added that the bridge was changed into a crooked bridge to the existing causeway.

In his statement of claim, Shazryl Eskay said Yahya, executive director and major shareholder of Merong Mahawangsa, had enlisted his help to procure the project from the government and to secure RM640 million in foreign funds for the project.

Shazryl claimed the second defendant had sought his help for his “discretion and good relations” with the government.

Shazryl Eskay said the second defendant suggested RM20 million in remunerations for his services, which has not been paid.

The “crooked bridge” project was terminated by the Abdullah administration in 2006.

Shazryl Eskay is seeking a RM20 million payment from the defendants as well as interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.

Judge Justice V.T. Singham has set April 13 for both counsels to submit their written submissions and March 5 for the decision.

MCA says Nazri ‘arrogant’ for calling party ‘grieving woman’

source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/mca-says-nazri-arrogant-for-calling-party-grieving-woman/
By Melissa
March 23, 2011

MCA Deputy President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said Nazri’s comments 'uncalled for'

 The MCA today said it is “saddened” by Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz’s comments, which were published today in the Chinese daily, Nanyang Siang Pau, comparing the second largest party in the ruling coalition to a “grieved woman” who was “sexually abused” but refusing to divorce her husband, in this case, the Barisan Nasional (BN).

MCA Deputy President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai told reporters today that Nazri’s comments on MCA and the MCA president were “uncalled for”.

“Especially at this juncture when you’re talking about promoting racial harmony, 1 Malaysia, by calling MCA a grieved woman, sexually abused and always complaining to others, and wanting to be a hero to the Chinese community and more or less that, telling us to leave the Barisan Nasional … we deeply regret that he mentioned all these.

“We will bring the matter to the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council,” he said.

Wanita MCA Chief Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said that as a woman, she finds it unacceptable that the Minister in the PM’s Department had used the words, “grieved woman” and “sexually abused” to describe MCA.

“I think all Barisan Nasional leaders must always heed the words of our prime minster at the first BN convention when the prime minister said that leaders in BN suffer from amnesia, denial, arrogance and delusion — delusion of one’s popularity and one’s ability to win and not needing support in all areas.

“The decision for MCA to stay or leave BN is MCA’s and MCA’s alone. However, if Minister Nazri feels that MCA is a liability, bring it to Umno’s supreme council, BN supreme council,” she said.

MCA International Affairs Bureau chairman Datuk Chor Chee Heung said that he had spoken to the deputy prime minister about the issue but he had merely responded by saying it was Nazri’s personal opinion and does not reflect the stance of BN or Umno.

“It has left a bad taste in the mouth,” he said.

Chor added that it is not up to Nazri to ask that MCA leave the ruling coalition, calling him “too arrogant” for saying such comments.

When asked if the party wants an apology from Nazri, Ng said that was not what they are after and stressed that MCA will bring this matter before the BN’s next supreme council meeting.

“We will not do anything at the call of one person and Nazri doesn’t represent Umno, he doesn’t represent the highest leadership or BN and we at MCA stand firm in our political objective and that is with other BN parties to bring about 1 Malaysia, which the prime minster has always said is about inclusiveness.

“We, MCA, do not feel pressured or stressed out by this,” she said, although the MCA leader’s expression hinted otherwise, during the press conference called at the eleventh hour, after the Parliamentary session had ended for the day.

Nazri later clarified that what was said was his own opinion and stressed that this is a free country.

“The question asked was that some MCA members claim they lost in the last GE because Umno was arrogant,” he said.

He said he did not believe that the Chinese didn’t vote for MCA because Umno was arrogant as he had won the Chinese vote in his own constituency.

“If the allegations are true, MCA should have left us. But the fact they are still with us, it’s not true.

“I never asked MCA to leave. If it’s true they should have left. The fact they didn’t leave then not true la,” he said.

MCA vice president Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said that such comments will not weaken the party spirit.

“Now that Malaysia is in the process of reforming itself, we need to allocate more of our time to our own duties and not brag about how good we are.

“MCA will not be discouraged by statements such as the one made by Nazri, but rather, we will continue to voice our dissatisfactions whenever there is unfairness or untruth. We will not keep quiet. MCA represents the people’s voice and we will not take a single step back when facing barriers,” he said.

MACC says wants Telekom to blacklist Alcatel-Lucent

source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/macc-says-wants-telekom-to-blacklist-alcatel-lucent/
By G Manimaran
Bahasa Malaysia Editor
March 23, 2011

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has asked Telekom Malaysia (TM) to either blacklist or suspend dealings with Alcatel-Lucent over the bribery case involving the GLC and the French telecommunications giant.

The MACC made the request recently, according to a statement today from the anti-graft investigators.

Alcatel-Lucent had on December 28 last year, agreed to pay US$137 million (RM508 million) to resolve US criminal and civil probes after it admitted to bribing officials in countries including Taiwan, Malaysia and Costa Rica.

The filing on Malaysia titled “The Malaysia Bribery Scheme” was eight paragraphs long and reported that “from October 2004 to February 2006, Alcatel bribed government officials in Malaysia to obtain confidential information relating to a public tender that Alcatel ultimately won, the result of which yielded a telecommunications contract valued at approximately US$85 million”.

The filing said the TM employees who received bribes were “foreign officials” within the meaning of the US Foreign Corrupt Practises Act and “were in a significant position to influence the policy decisions Telekom Malaysia made.”

It added the Basel-based Alcatel Standard made significant lump-sum payments through US bank accounts to two consultants labelled “Malaysian Consultant A” and “Malaysian Consultant B”, purportedly for market research.

“Alcatel Standard paid US$200,000 to Malaysian Consultant A in 2005 for a series of ‘market reports’ describing conditions in the Malaysian telecommunications market. Similarly, Alcatel Standard paid US$500,000 to Malaysian Consultant B in 2005 for a ‘strategic intelligence report’.

“However, the work product these consultants prepared could not justify the size of Alcatel Standard’s payments. In fact, Malaysian Consultant A and Malaysian Consultant B did not appear to render any legitimate services to Alcatel Malaysia in connection with these payments,” the filing said.

In a statement today, MACC said it had asked the Malaysian government to blacklist, suspend or take all necessary action on all local and international companies known to have used corrupt means to procure public contracts

Umno ministers wash hands of sex video trio

source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/umno-ministers-wash-hands-of-sex-video-trio/
By Shannon Teoh

Nazri Aziz reasoned that it is not Umno’s task to monitor the individual actions of its three million strong membership.

  Umno leaders moved today to distance themselves from the men who have claimed responsibility for the sex video that shows a man alleged to be Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim having sex with a Chinese prostitute.

“We are a party of three million members. If one or two use their individual right to pursue this, there is nothing we can do,” said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik had admitted today that businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay, Perkasa treasurer Datuk Shuib Lazim and himself were collectively the mysterious “Datuk T” behind Monday’s screening of the 21-minute sex video.

Umno’s former Malacca chief minister also admitted that both he and Shazryl were behind the video.

He told reporters at a joint press conference together with Shazryl that they wanted to show that “a person who wants to be national leader and PM was not qualified.”

“They have done this in their individual capacity without our knowledge. Umno does not want to be associated with this,” the Padang Rengas MP added.

Supreme council member Datuk Seri Rais Yatim said that the matter was a criminal affair and should not be the subject of accusations and claims.

“It must be investigated by the police and the Attorney-General. The investigation is to ensure that no names or parties are dragged into the issue and slandered,” the information, communications, and culture minister said.

He also urged the three men to lodge a police report so that the investigation can proceed according to the laws of the country.

Abdul Rahim also claimed that PKR Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul had demanded money to defect after the latter was shown the video on Monday afternoon.

Johari had suggested earlier today that businessman Shazryl was the mysterious “Datuk T”, and that Abdul Rahim was among those behind the screening of a sex video.

He also accused the two men of attempting to entice him and other PKR MPs to defect after he had viewed the recording, which he said was of a person who only vaguely resembled Anwar.

According to Johari, Abdul Rahim had also promised to bring him to see Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak after he had viewed the sex video.

Anwar has already accused Najib of being directly involved with the screening of the sex video

Arrest ‘Datuk T’ trio for pornography, Kit Siang demands

surce: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/arrest-datuk-t-trio-for-pornography-kit-siang-demands/
By Melissa Chi
March 23, 2011

    DAP parliamentary leader, Lim Kit Siang, today demanded that the police arrest the trio behind the screening of a sex tape, allegedly featuring Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, after confirming their identity earlier today.

The Ipoh Timor MP (picture) said in a statement that it is obvious that the three men had committed a crime by publicly screening such a pornographic material and had already admitted to it.

“The mystery of the ‘Dato T’ of the Sri Carcosa sex tape caper has been resolved in 48 hours with the confession by the culprits concerned – former Malacca chief minister and Umno veteran Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Cik, Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and Perkasa’s Shuib Lazim,” Lim pointed out.

Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik admitted today that businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay, Perkasa’s Datuk Shuib Lazim and himself were collectively the mysterious “Datuk T” behind Monday’s screening of a sex video allegedly featuring the Opposition leader.

The former Malacca chief minister also admitted that both he and Shazryl were behind the video.

He told reporters at a joint press conference together with Shazryl that the trio had chosen to step forward on their own accord because they wanted to show that “a person with high ambitions of wanting to be national leader and prime minister of Malaysia … was not qualified.”

Anwar had immediately denied that he was the man in the video and had lodged a police report on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, as well as Umno leaders had denied any involvement in the recording and screening of the scandalous video.

“Two questions now uppermost in the minds of all right-thinking Malaysians are; why police have not yet arrested the trio of “Datuk T”, namely Rahim, Shazryl and Shuib for various crimes including Section 292 of the Penal Code for “publicly exhibiting any obscene or pornographic material” liable to a jail term of three years or Section 5(1) of the Film Censorship Act 2002 where he is liable to be fined up to RM50,000 or jailed up to five years or both.

“Do the trio enjoy immunity and impunity for breaches of the law and actions which have brought worldwide shame to the nation?” he said.

The video was first showed to “high-ranking members of the media” on Monday morning at the Carcosa Seri Negara, by a man who only identified himself as Datuk T.

The video recording showed a man who resembles a senior Malay opposition leader having sex with a woman believed to be a prostitute from China.

Datuk T said that the February 21 video was from closed-circuit television camera recordings found in a hotel room in Kuala Lumpur.

Later that day, almost simultaneous with Anwar’s press conference denying that he was not the man in the video, a PKR MP was brought to another hotel to view the video, the first MP to be given such privilege.

It was only today that Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul revealed the identity of those behind the screening of a sex video.

Johari also accused the Shazryl and Rahim of attempting to entice him and other PKR MPs to defect after he had viewed the recording, which he said was of a person who only loosely resembled Anwar.

According to Johari, Abdul Rahim had also promised to bring him to see the Prime Minister after having viewed the sex video.

Lim also posed the question on how the Malaysian public and international opinion are to be convinced that the police and the top Umno and Cabinet  leaders including the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, and the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz “are not privy to the Sri Carcosa sex tape caper” and to the identities of the trio in “Dato T” whether before or immediately after the screening of the sex video on Monday.

“A despicable and dastardly political ploy to destroy both Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat’s chances in the Sarawak general elections may prove to be the last straw to break the back of public confidence in the credibility and legitimacy of the Najib premiership and to convince the majority of the people that the time has come to end the mandate of Barisan Nasional and Umno to continue to govern Sarawak and Malaysia,” Lim said.

M’sian sex video scandal: Who is Datuk T?

source: http://news.malaysia.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4731982
By The Star/ANN, Updated by MSN News, 3/23/2011

Kuala Lumpur (The Star/ANN) – The mysterious Datuk T has become a top talking point as the controversy over the sex video involving a man who resembles Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim rages on.

***UPDATE*** According to The Star’s reporting, ‘Datuk T’ consists of three individuals: Ex Malacca chief minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and Perkasa treasurer Datuk Shuib Lazim. The ex chief minister stated this at a press conference on Wednesday.

Original story follows.

The Opposition Leader has denied he is the man in the 22-minute video and claimed that it was doctored. He blamed it on the Barisan Nasional government.

A day after the video emerged, political sources speculated that it was “an inside job”.

In his press release, whistle-blower Datuk T had said that after the politician had left the hotel, “he (the politician) realised he had left behind his Omega watch in a room that he had occupied earlier.”

Datuk T, a Malay man in his 50s, said he was “asked to search for the watch in the room”, when he stumbled upon some electrical wiring as well as a video recorder containing the footage of the politician having sex with a woman.

However, it is not clear what prompted Datuk T to go public with the video. The popular theory is that he once belonged to the videoed politician’s inner circle.

“He is obviously someone very trusted by the politician to carry out such a personal task (search for the watch),” one analyst said.

The bespectacled Datuk T signed off the press release as “The Insider”, which gives further hint that he was, at some point, someone who knew of the politician’s movements, habits and activities.

Political sources believe Datuk T could have fallen out with the politician, causing the former to turn against him.

In the press release, Datuk T said he would make available a copy of the video to the politician and his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also the president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). The whistle-blower has demanded that the duo quit politics within seven days, failing which he would call on several NGOs to set up an independent panel to investigate.

Media representatives were allowed to take turns individually to watch the video.

They included those from The Star, New Straits Times, Utusan Malaysia, Malaysiakini, Malaysian Insider, China Press, Oriental Daily, Kwong Wah Daily, Bernama and Harakah, the mouthpiece of Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS).

Datuk T, who spoke impeccable English, pointed out the date and time on the footage to the newsmen who watched it closely to ascertain the identity of the man in the video.

The soft-spoken mystery man had four bodyguards with him. Two wore dark glasses. They used metal scanners to check reporters, who were then asked to wear robes over their attire before being allowed into the room.

The media has been unable to trace the identity of Datuk T or whether the person who spoke to them was in fact Datuk T.

Analysts said that, logically, the man in the video would know the identity of Datuk T if it was indeed true that Datuk T had been asked by him to collect the watch left behind in the hotel after having sex with the foreign prostitute.

Datuk T also showed a gold Omega watch to the journalists. The watch was carefully wrapped and he made sure that he left no fingerprints on it, telling reporters that “his (the politician’s) wife would be able to recognise it.”

When asked by reporters on Monday, Anwar said at a press conference that his Omega watch was with his wife.

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Malaysia’s Anwar denies sex tape allegations

source: http://news.malaysia.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4723396
By Agence France-Presse, Updated: 3/21/2011

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is on currently trial for sodomy, on Monday denied allegations he was the man in a sex tape shown to the media.

Malaysia's Anwar denies sex tape allegations

    Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is on currently trial for sodomy, on Monday denied allegations he was the man in a sex tape shown to the media.

Anwar, a former deputy premier who was sacked and jailed in 1998 on separate sodomy and corruption charges widely seen as politically motivated, said the tape was another “dirty and obscene” attempt to end this career.

“I condemn this latest conspiracy to slander and embarrass my family and I,” he said after an unidentified group showed the tape to journalists including the editors of several Malaysian newspapers.

“The visual that was shown… this afternoon is a planned evil attack by my political enemies in their effort to slow down Pakatan Rakyat,” he said, referring to his three-member opposition alliance.

Anwar said he was at home meeting with political staffers when the incident — purportedly an assignation with a female prostitute in a hotel room — supposedly took place in February.

“I even have proof that I was sending tweets at the time the alleged incident was said to have occurred,” he said.

“They have tried for 13 years to destroy me. Our members and the Malaysian public will not be duped to believe such scurrilous attacks.”

According to online news portal journalist Sam Tan, who was allowed to view the 17-minute tape, it showed someone looking like the former deputy premier engaging in sex with a woman in what appeared to be a hotel room.

“The people involved showed us the video on a laptop and it appeared to be from a CCTV that showed someone who looks like Anwar having sex with a woman,” he said.

“The reporters were made to leave their cameras and all recording devices outside the room before we were made to dress in robes and led to the computer where the video was played for us,” he added.

Anwar said he was unable to take legal action against those releasing the tape as he had yet to see a copy, and it was not yet clear whether it would be widely distributed.

The unidentified group said in a statement that the incident took place at a hotel “that offered sex services and spa facilities” in the Malaysian capital on February 21 this year.

They said the video and hidden recording equipment were found in the hotel room after Anwar asked for it to be searched to find a watch left behind there.

“Anwar is not a pious person with high moral value and integrity as portrayed, and therefore he is not fit to be a leader,” they said in the statement signed only “The Insider”.

The group said it would send a copy of the video to Anwar and his wife next week and that if he did not resign, they would ask civil society groups to establish a panel to investigate their claims.

The allegations emerged as Malaysian prosecutors attempt to force Anwar to provide a DNA sample in his sodomy trial, as they try to prove he had sexual contact with his accuser, a 25-year-old male former aide.

He has refused to give a sample and won a key victory earlier this month when DNA evidence obtained from his detention cell without his consent was ruled inadmissible.

Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan has accused Anwar — a 63-year-old father of six — of sodomising him at an upmarket Kuala Lumpur condominium in 2008. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

Anwar has said he is the victim of a plot to prevent him from taking power after the opposition made huge strides in 2008 elections, stunning the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition which has been in power for half a century.

He was sacked as deputy premier by then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad in 1998 and found guilty of corruption and sodomy, but was released from jail in 2004 after the sodomy conviction was overturned.