In swearing on the Quran, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan has chosen the Islamic path to prove his innocence. As such, it was up to Muslims to evaluate his actions in doing so.

Bernama quoted Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as saying that Saiful had chosen to redeem his honour by the act of sumpah laknat (swearing in the face of divine retribution).

"According to our system, any individual accused of sodomy can clear his name the Islamic way or through the courts and Saiful has chosen the former. It is up to the people to make their own conclusions.

"I have said from the beginning that this issue is a personal matter between Saiful and Anwar and has nothing to do with the Barisan Nasional," Najib told reporters after meeting Umno's Permatang Pauh by-election machinery in Butterworth yesterday.

Not consensual

Saiful, 23, swore on the Quran at the Federal Territory Mosque in Kuala Lumpur yesterday that he was sodomised by Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim on June 26 at a condominium in Damansara.

saiful bukhari azlan and anwar ibrahim 150808 He also claimed that the alleged anal intercourse was not consensual and that it was his first time. Saiful however, refused to divulge how many times he had been sodomised by Anwar.

Meanwhile, Anwar yesterday dismissed Saiful's actions as a dirty political gimmick by Umno to cause his downfall.

"One day after the Election Commission announced the date for the Permatang Pauh by-election they charged me.

"Now, on the eve of nominations, this guy is swearing on the Quran. What is the motive for all this?" asked Anwar.

Anwar is contesting the by-election following the seat being vacated by his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. He will be facing BN candidate Arif Shah Omar Shah, the Seberang Jaya assemblyperson.

Nomination is today at Maktab Penguruan Tuanku Bainun and polling is on Aug 26.