Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim today produced two documents in Parliament to back up his allegations on the links between global public relations firm Apco Worldwide, the Israeli government and 1Malaysia.

One of the documents was the agreement signed between Apco and the Malaysian government, which was witnessed by Premier Najib Razak's press secretary Tengku Sharifuddin Tengku Ahmad.

The presence of Tengku Sharifuddin, Anwar said, underlies the importance of Apco to the Najib government as normal contracts are signed by government officers.

NONE Anwar ( left in photo ) asked why a Najib’s aide be at the signing of the contract.

The other document was the deal inked between Apco and the Israeli government when Ehud Barak - who later as premier adopted the One Israel slogan - was the head of the Israeli military.

Anwar claimed that the agreement was positive proof of links between Apco and Israel.

The opposition leader also pointed out to the slew of ex-Israeli government officials which made up Apco's list of officers and consultants.

Chief among them being Doron Bergerbest-Eilon, who heads the Israeli Security Agency, Itamar Rabinovichk, who was formerly with Israeli's internal intelligence organ Shin Bet, and Shimon Stein, a former Israeli ambassador to Germany.

As for 1Malaysia, a slogan popularised by Najib, the Permatang Pauh MP alluded to links between Apco executives and the Malaysian government even before the consultancy company was hired.

NONE He said that members of Apco staff were already working with the Najib government even before the contract was signed through the recommendation of Ethos Consultancy, a company founded by former Najib special officer Omar Mustapha.

"At the time, an Apco staff member was already stationed in the premier's office after he took power. This was way before 1Malaysia was announced,” contended Anwar.

"Therefore, in providing 'communications support' to the Malaysian government, Apco may have worked with Najib on 1Malaysia."

According to Anwar, top Apco executives were operating in a company called MindTeam Sdn Bhd. MindTeam's officials included Paul Stedlan, who now heads Apco Malaysia, and Margery Krause, Apco's founder and CEO.

"It is their strategy to work using associates companies to operate in different countries."

Anwar said that the documents will be given to the House speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.

Anwar rubbish Apco's denial

The Permatang Pauh MP also rubbished Apco's denial over its involvement in coining the 1Malaysia slogan.

"It is a part of Apco's duty to protect those who employ them, which include denying their involvement."

Referring to the contract signed between Apco and its clients, Anwar stated that there is a particular emphasis on confidentiality and deniability when it comes to information of the actual scope of Apco's involvement.

NONE "It is easy for them (the Najib administration) to ask Apco to draft a statement denying its involvement."

The former deputy prime minister also demanded Najib to explain in Parliament the Apco contract, including the cost of engaging its consultancy services.

Anwar also urged the government to immediately terminate the Apco contract and set up a royal commission to investigate the matter.

After Anwar’s lengthy explanation in Parliament, deputy House speaker Ronald Kiandee said he cannot decide whether the opposition leader should be referred to the powerful privileges committee for further action to be taken.

He said that BN parliamentarians will need to table a motion if they want to refer Anwar to the committee. 

Similarities cannot be brushed aside

Speaking to reporters after his explanation in Parliament, Anwar stressed that the "similarities" between 'One Israel' and '1Malaysia' are not just mere coincidence to be brushed aside.

"Not everything can be coincidence -  'One Israel' in 1999 was led by Ehud Barak. His advisor is the same (person in Apco) who was a military intelligence officer when Ehud Barak was the military chief of staff," said Anwar.

He pointed out that one of the main features during Barak’s tenure was his tendency to hire his military friends rather than those within the party.

"The platform of 'One Israel' included better access to education and health, so a pathway to better health care is 'One Israel'. Under '1Malaysia', we have '1Malaysia' clinics.

"Their (One Israel) objective is to divert attention from the issue of settlements. '1Malaysia' is to divert attention from racial conflicts, bribery and corruption," said Anwar.

According to Anwar, 'One Israel' was accompanied by the 'People first' slogan, while '1Malaysia' it is 'People first, performance now'.

Gov’t to decide

In an immediate reaction, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said the government will make a decision on whether to haul Anwar to the special privileges and rights committee.

“The government will discuss his reply and we hope to be able to give an answer next week at the earliest,” he said when asked to comment on Anwar's 40-minute explanation.

Nazri added that the government will move a motion to refer Anwar to the powerful privileges committee, if it is not satisfied with his explanation.

Should the committee, which is dominated by BN parliamentarians, find Anwar guilty, he may be suspended from the House for a specific period.