By Xinhua,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysia will send a protest note to the United States for suggesting a political motive in the investigation of sodomy allegations against its former deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, local media reported on Wednesday.
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi described a U.S. State Department statement on the allegations as an attempt at interference in the country’s affairs.
The State Department said on Monday that it would oppose any politically motivated investigation or prosecution against Anwar and hoped the accusations would not be a repeat of his 1998 trial.
“The main point for us is that the rule of law needs to stand above politics,” said State Department spokesman Tom Casey.
“We know what we need to do to ensure the investigation is done professionally and fairly,” the New Straits Times quoted Badawi assaying.
“I will ask the foreign minister to send a note because such a statement reflects a prejudice towards us, towards our law and towards our authority,” he said.
Malaysian deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak also assailed the American government for implying that the investigation could be biased.
“It is not politically motivated. The thought never even crossed our minds,” he said.
“Washington better get its facts right,” he added.
Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan lodged a police report on Saturday alleging that Anwar had sodomised him.
In southern Malacca state, chief minister and UMNO (the ruling United Malays National Organization) vice-president Mohd Ali Rustam condemned the U.S. statement.
“We are a sovereign nation and no other country should interfere in our internal affairs,” he said.
“There is no reason for the U.S. to warn us or to give an ultimatum to our leaders,” he said.