Inappropriate to name Anwar as PM candidate when sex assault case still pending, says Bersatu

Bersatu today objected to the naming of Anwar Ibrahim as Pakatan Harapan's (PH) candidate for prime minister, citing the PKR chief's ongoing court case on an alleged sexual assault against his former research assistant. 

Bersatu Supreme Council member Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad, referring to PH's announcement in Perak on Oct 20, said any leader accused of sexual wrongdoing in court should withdraw from elections or government positions until the case has been settled. 

"This is to ensure that only clean and moral leaders hold important government positions, to preserve public confidence and the country's reputation," he said. 

"It is surprising and highly inappropriate for PH to nominate Anwar before the completion of Muhammed Yusoff Rawther's court case against him."

Yusoff, who worked at Anwar’s bungalow office in Bukit Gasing, Petaling Jaya, filed a suit against the PKR president accusing him of sexually assaulting him some time in October 2018, days before the opposition leader won the Port Dickson by-election. 

Yusoff claimed to have suffered serious physical, psychological and social trauma as a result of the incident. 

Latiff said it was up to PH to reconsider its candidate for prime minister. 

"They should respect the country's election process by ensuring that their candidates, including their prime ministerial candidate, are clean and persons of integrity.

"Until the High Court issues a decision in Yusoff's case, Anwar should not be named as a candidate for prime minister."

Yusoff recently won a defamation suit against Anwar's press secretary over the alleged assault, with the Shah Alam Sessions Court ordering Tunku Nashrul Tunku Abaidah to pay him RM200,000 in costs. 

Nashrul was told to apologise to Yusoff and pay him costs over a media statement in 2019, where he denied an assault incident which the latter claimed had taken place at Anwar's office.

Yusoff later said that the victory was a step towards proving his claims of what had transpired.