With regard to the report Anwar denies slandering Dr M, defends statement , it is pristine clear that Anwar's allegations against Dr M are nothing new. They were mentioned by Anwar under oath during his infamous trial in 1999. Until today they have never been rebutted or denied.

There is no reason for Mahathir to say much on the issue. The avenue for him to clear his name if was slandered by Anwar, is very open and clear. He should go to a civil court to face the judges, some of whom he had a hand in choosing when he was the premier.

The public ought to know who is telling the truth. To my mind this issue is of immense importance to us the public as it involves public figures who were once at the pulse of the nation. The allegations and their rebuttals (if they come) involve the integrity of the two most powerful men in the country then.

It is their sacrosanct duty to the public to tell the truth. One must recall that Anwar, as the deputy prime minister, is the person who introduced to Parliament a new law on corruption that, amongst other things, said that a person who leaves public office can still be prosecuted long after he leaves his post. Is this not the direction the country should take to fight corruption ?

As a citizen of the country, one should only hold his allegiance to a leader that he can trust. I trust Anwar because he is a man unquestionable integrity. He has suffered so much in defence of his beliefs. His standing amongst the people, at least to the Malays and the rest of the world, is high. He is well respected by the East and West.

But I still sympathise with Mahathir who, it seems, had to pay the RM5.3 million to a lobbyist in Washington to enable him to see US President George W Bush.

Now, to me the above claim is slander. Mahathir should file a suit against the accuser!