"I trust my husband absolutely," maintains Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, wife of sacked deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The Parti Keadilan Nasional president today refuted the contents of an advertisment headlined "Even she doesn't trust her husband ... If she can't trust him, can we?" placed by Barisan Nasional in the local media since Wednesday.

Footage from Wan Azizah's interview with an Australian television station last December was edited to show Wan Azizah as saying "Don't trust anybody absolutely" in reply to a question posed to her about Anwar and Syamsidar Taharin, the wife of Anwar's former private secretary, Azmin Ali.

Expressing her disgust at the advertisement, Wan Azizah contends that her statements were taken out of context to imply that she did not trust her husband with regards to his relationship with Syamsidar. "I had said that as a general remark. If I don't trust him (Anwar), then why am I here?"

Wan Azizah also read letters from Anwar addressed to the Chinese and Indian communities urging them to reject BN's intimidation and scare tactics, and to support Barisan Alternatif at the polls.

"I believe that people would not be easily cheated and swayed (by the threats). I have not witnessed (BN chairman) Mahathir (Mohamad) ranting and raving this badly. They (BN) must be alarmed," Anwar wrote in his letter.

He also refuted various allegations raised by BN against the Opposition and expressed confidence that the winds of change will sweep across the country .

"Let us not be easily scared or deceived by the slanders and lies of the National Front which controls and abuses the government machinery and media and has accumulated wealth through corruption," he said. "Use your freedom to bring forth changes."

In another development, BA's request for an audience with the King has been rejected.

"We have received word from the Agong's private secretary that our request will not be considered by the prime minister's department," said Keadilan spokesperson Raja Petra Kamaruddin.

The letter requesting an audience was sent to the Agong's private secretary early this morning but was referred to the PM's department for final approval.