Malaysia - Mahathir speaks out against Anwar

(22 Sep 1998) T/I: 10:37:30 Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday (22/9) accused his detained former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim of sodomy and of plotting to overthrow him. SHOWS: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, 22/9 PAN press Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad news conference; SOT Mahathir Mohamad in English: “The climax came on Sunday when he instigated his followers to riot, to be violent, to attack certain places and it is clear he was whipping up emotions in order to develop the kind of situation that was found in Indonesia......“; Cutaway press; SOT Mahathir Mohamad: “A person I had regarded as a friend, a colleague and to a certain extent my protegee. Action has to be taken because this man cannot be allowed to become a leader in a country like this“; Cutaway conference; SOT Mahathir: “I actually interviewed the people he sodomised, the women he had sex with and the driver who brought the women to the place where he met them. This was told to me without the presence of the police or anybody“; MS people at conference; SOT Mahathir: “What is there - I am going to retire I had already named him as my successor. Why is there a need for him to challenge me, but he did in fact plan to overthrow me by making this accusation which he has since admitted. Though at that time he was very nice with me and smiling while at the same time he was plotting.“; WS presser; SOT Mahathir: “How fast he is going to be charged is something not for me to decide. That is for the public prosecutor, for the police to decide. But I’m quite sure they feel an urgent need for this because they themselves are now being accused by Anwar and they are being called members of Mossad... What they are trying to be is professional and not to be affected emotionally by this, they want to do a professional job, and if they need time, I think you have to give them time“; VS security around Anwar house; riot police helicopters; WS press conference with Anwar’s wife Dr. Wan Azizah; CU wife; SOT Dr Wan Azizah: “The police came twice today both times they were in plain clothes. They have taken a statement from me in circumstances that were intimidating. My lawyer was present. He had to intervene several times to prevent them from harrassing me while taking my statement. My statement was made in relation to my expressed concerns for my husband’s well being and safety while in detention. Thank-you“; WS conference; Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: