Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar today branded PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim as an United States ‘snitch’.

The minister said this in response to a caution from Washington with regards to the fresh sodomy allegation against the opposition stalwart.

syed hamid albar "Anwar is a tukang lapor (snitch) to America. Every time when something happens, he reports to the US," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

"I thought he wants to be our country’s leader ... why ask advice from foreign countries?" he added.

Yesterday, US State Department spokesperson Tom Casey cautioned that US would oppose any politically motivated investigation or prosecution of Anwar.

Noting that Anwar had previously faced similar charges and that his conviction was ultimately overturned, Casey said: "So, we would hope that there’s not a pattern here."

'We don't feel threatened'

Commenting on this, Syed Hamid said Malaysia did not feel threatened by the statement.

"I think America always tries to give warning to small states like us but we have never been threatened or feel threatened. There is a system of international law.

"Let the police do their job (first), only then it will be fair for us to conclude it in whatever way," he said, adding that it was too early for the US to "get excited" since no charge has been pressed against Anwar and the case was merely at the investigation stage.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday said that he will ask Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim to send a protest note to Washington over the statement.

Abdullah said the statement was "not proper" and was tantamount to meddling in Malaysia’s internal affairs.

On Saturday, Anwar’s former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan lodged a police report against his ex-boss for allegedly sodomising him. Anwar has denied the claim.

US has the right

At a separate press conference, DAP chairperson Karpal Singh said US should be given its right to air its view on any matter.

karpal singh Karpal said US is concerned about Anwar’s case after what happened in 1998.

"The (Malaysian) government should not forget they are being watched by other countries ... A lot of other countries are watching us, we are not in isolation.

"(US) should have the right to make necessary comments in regard of any particular situation which they may suspect (involves any) element of conspiracy," he added.