Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has stood up for the police, challenging the opposition to prove that they are in fact complicit in the latest sex scandal to hit PKR de facto chief Anwar Ibrahim.

NONE Hishammuddin ( right ) deflected claims that the controversial sex tape screening is a prelude to a repeat of Anwar's first sodomy trial in 1998, saying that the opposition's claims of conspiracy are merely red herrings aimed at obscuring the truth.

"This time I won't sit still. I won't allow them to politicise the issue. I have the right to defend the integrity of the police," he told a press conference in the Parliament lobby.

"All this spin is to tarnish my image and that of the police. DNA is a conspiracy, Saiful is a conspiracy, the (sex) tape is a conspiracy... I challenge all those who point their fingers at me and the police; prove it," he said, making references to Anwar's on-going sodomy trial .

Yesterday, Anwar's lawyer Sankara Nair said in a statement that his client was right to assume "police complicity" in the sex video screening.

Anwar's move to lodge a police report yesterday might be used as a basis to arrest and charge him, as happened in 1998 for the first sodomy trial, added the lawyer.

Sankara further said it was unlikely that the police were unaware of the private screening of the sex video for senior editors and journalists at Carcosa Seri Negara on Monday.

Hishammuddin said his lawyers are now studying the possibility of filing a civil suit against Anwar for hurling many claims of conspiracy against the Home Ministry and the police.

“By alleging that the minister is conspiring, it affects the police. I will consider suing him because I have nothing to hide. (The lawsuit) is not for me, but to make sure the integrity and good name of the police are safeguarded. We also want to get to the bottom of it (sex video).”

azlan Hishammuddin shrugged off the suggestion by the mysterious ‘Datuk T’ for a public commission to be formed to determine the veracity of the sex video, claiming that there have also been calls for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to look into the issue.

“(The) RCI is not under my jurisdiction and not up to me to decide. But even if there was a RCI, it will not stop (or) deter the police from doing their duty.

“So if there is anyone who wants to recommend that it (commission) goes ahead, as the minister responsible, this issue has already been raised with the police.

“I said yesterday that all we want to know is the truth. They (opposition) can accuse anyone and say it is a conspiracy but in the end we want to know the truth, and truth will prevail no matter how you want to spin it.”

'Be fair to Anwar too'

Hishammuddin repeatedly stressed that he does not know the progress of investigations, but assured that the police will “act professionally” in handling the case.

“You have to ask the police. Let this not be a trial in public, (and) I urge the media to be fair, including to Anwar himself. Do not pressure... the police report was only made yesterday, (so) let them investigate.

azlan “I can assure you that the IGP (Ismail Omar, left ) and Bukit Aman (police headquarters) will do it. I advised the IGP that since it is of public interest and a high-profile case, make sure the facts are correct. Act professionally to find out the truth.”

Asked if the police will seek Datuk T’s cooperation in providing a copy of the video, Hishammuddin said this would depend on the direction of the investigations, which will be based on Anwar’s police report.

“It will touch on the investigations of the police, so it is up to them to see what they can do. I don’t even know what is in the police report. If I know all this, then it is a conspiracy again,” he quipped.

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