It is not surprising if Anwar Ibrahim paid for the recent Cable News Network (CNN) interview recently, as an effort to convince Jewish lobbyists that he is not anti-Israel, said Umno vice-president Mohd Shafie Apdal.

He said those who were well acquainted with the PKR advisor knew that it was not impossible for him to do so.

shafie apdal and mps no defection pc 280808 01 "If it is true that Anwar paid for the CNN interview, it shows that he stoop so low to the United States and the Jews... he will do anything to achieve his ambition of becoming the prime minister," he told reporters after opening the Besut Umno division delegates meeting today.

Shafie, who is also rural and regional development minister, was commenting on Treviño Strategies and Media Inc president Joshua Treviño that Anwar hired media contacts, particularly in CNN proper to apologise on his Jew-bashing.

Writing on an influential US online news portal, The New Ledger, Trevino claimed that CNN's Connector of the Day programme was so tame in questioning Anwar's anti-Semitic rhetoric to help him rebuild his image in the apology tour.

Opposition lies

In Shah Alam, Umno supreme council member Mustapa Mohamed said one of Umno's main tasks was to thwart allegations, slander and false news churned out by the opposition against the government and national leaders.

"This is necessary following lies fabricated by the opposition against government institutions such as Felda .

"We need to treat this matter seriously and enlighten the people on the truth so that they will not be easily influenced by lies spread by the opposition through the media," he said when opening the Shah Alam Umno division delegates meeting here today.

Mustapa, who is also International Trade and Industry Minister, said the opposition made slanderous remarks like the government supported the Jewish government and Felda had gone bankrupt to weaken Barisan Nasional.

- Bernama