The content of the letter sent by public relations firm, Apco Worldwide, to the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee was used as the basis to suspend Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim from attending the Dewan Rakyat sittings for six months.

A minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said that in the letter, dated Aug 19, the firm had clearly denied its involvement in creating the 1Malaysia slogan, thus refuting Anwar's claim linking the slogan to the firm.

"So, it's clear that Anwar had lied in the Dewan (Rakyat), and this is the most important evidence to prove that Anwar lied," he told reporters at the Parliament Lobby today.

He was commenting on the suspension of Anwar, who is also the Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh, from attending the Dewan Rakyat sittings for six months for giving an incorrect statement to the House in linking the 1Malaysia concept with 'One Israel'.

Besides the letter, Nazri said that he had also received a sworn statement from Robert M Shrum, a citizen of the United States (US), who was also involved as a strategist and consultant for many political races at all levels, including as a senior advisor in 1999 for the campaign of Prime Minister Ehud Barak of Israel.

No links to ‘One Israel’

    

Nazri said that in the sworn statement, Shrum had refuted Apco's involvement in the slogan, thus strengthening the denial by the firm in the letter about its involvement in the 'One Israel' campaign.

"Anwar had mentioned Ehud Barak and 'One Israel' in his speech, but here, it is clear in this case that the person responsible (Shrum) had denied what Anwar had mentioned about Apco's involvement with One Israel," he said.

Nazri also denied that Anwar was not given the right to defend himself and presented evidence to support his statement that linked the 1Malaysia concept to One Israel.

He said that Anwar had been given several opportunities to defend himself since he issued the statement at the Parliament sitting in March, but did not take those opportunities, and instead he continued to link the 1Malaysia concept with One Israel.

"He was given the right to defend himself on April 22, the day that I tabled the motion to refer him to the committee.

"Even before that on March 17 after he made the statement, we had given him one week to defend himself and withdraw his statement, but he chose to 'attack' us further without substantiating with evidence," he said.

- Bernama

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