PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has claimed that former Malacca chief minister Rahim Thamby Chik's admitted involvement in the sex tape used against him was evidence of Umno's involvement in the entire affair.

NONE He said Rahim appears to be taking revenge for his departure from politics back in 1994.

"This showed the high level conspiracy of Umno's involvement in this," Anwar ( right ) told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur court complex today.

"I do not know how the home minister (Hishammuddin Hussein) can deny this... One of their (party) members is involved and also Perkasa," he said in reference to the Malay rights group.

Yesterday, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had threatened to take legal action against Anwar for alleging that he and the police were involved in the sex tape.

azlan Anwar argued that his comments were based on the fact that those who released the video - Rahim, businessman Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and Perkasa treasurer Shuib Lazim, collectively known as 'Datuk T' ( from left to right in photo ) - were still at large.

"In fact, I am told they are now being protected (by the authorities or special branch)," Anwar claimed, asking why the authorities were according such treatment to persons who had confessed to being behind the screening of a pornographic video to selected members of the press.

He said the authorities take action against those they claim spread pornographic material, but act otherwise when it concerns Umno leaders.

Anwar said since the involvement of the three had surfaced, the party’s case for Umno’s involvement has only been strengthened.

"We had made the allegation from day one, that Umno was involved, but they vehemently deny (it). And now, there is evidence.

"Now that they have admitted, the police have not acted.

“This is surprising. (This is the) first case in the country (where there’s a) clear case of criminal intimidation by displaying of  pornographic material, (and) which is fully endorsed by the PM (Najib Abdul Razak), his lovely wife Rosmah (Mansor) and, of course, Home Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein."

'I was just the messenger for Dr M'

Questioned whether the ‘Datuk T’ trio, especially Rahim, were taking revenge on him for a past incident, Anwar said: “There is no basis to popularise this fake video and make this attack. They were initially anonymous, and now have surfaced.”

mahathir book launch memoirs 080311 Rahim was compelled to quit  politics including the post of Umno Youth chief following allegations that he had committed statutory rape (changed to raping an underage girl).

The then attorney-general, the late Mohtar Abdullah, did not press any charges against Rahim.

It had been speculated that Anwar played a role compelling Rahim to quit politics. Denying this today, he deflected the blame to then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad ( above ).

"I was merely conveying Dr Mahathir message (for Rahim to resign). I do not know if Mahathir may suffer from selective amnesia (over the matter)," he said.

'Najib must clarify role'

In a statement, meanwhile, PKR called for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to respond to claims that the 'Datuk T' trio had met with him yesterday in his office at Parliament to discuss the video scandal.

NONE "Keadilan has been informed that the prime minister chaired a meeting of Umno's political bureau yesterday afternoon, and that the prime minister was in fact at the Parliament building during the time the trio were present," said the statement signed by the party's communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

"This raises serious questions as to what extent government leaders are involved in the making and screening of the sex video, clearly violating the laws.

"The refusal of the government to take swift and firm action against all those behind (the scandal) strengthens public perception that government leaders are involved in this conspiracy, not unlike the conspiracy of 1998," said Nik Nazmi in reference to the sodomy and corruption charges filed against Anwar more than a decade ago.

"To clear his name and (that of) Umno, the prime minister must state what he discussed with the three persons behind the sex video that is currently embarrassing Malaysia."

PKR also said Eskay's admission yesterday that he was one of two men in the video "confirms the theory that the man seen early on in the video clip arranging some items in the room and suspected of being responsible for setting up the recording equipment was Eskay himself."

NONE This falls in line with the question raised by PKR's Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul ( far right in photo ) yesterday, said PKR, as to whether the man in the video knew the sex acts were to be recorded as he was seen along with the man said to have been preparing the recording equipment.

Eskay has also raised serious doubts about his earlier claim on the day the video was screened that he was allegedly asked by Anwar to recover a watch that was left in the room where the sex acts took place.

"It is clear that (Eskay's statement) was a lie, because he himself has admitted that he was involved and suspected of being the one who had fixed the recording equpment in place.

"His claim that he discovered the video is a lie that defies logic."

Dismissing Nik Nazmi's statement outright, Umno Youth chief and a member of Umno's political bureau Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar said the bureau's fortnightly meeting was held on Monday in Putrajaya and not at Parliament yesterday as alleged.

"Please don't spread lies," the Rembau parliamentarian tweeted this afternoon.

"I can categorically refute @niknazmi's statement that PM @NajibRazak chaired a Umno political bureau meeting in Parliament yesterday," he added in another tweet.

Cops quiz Rahim, Eskay over sex video

PKR man Johari comes to defence of Shuib Lazim

Chegubard shown clip, insists man not Anwar

Umno Youth rejects RCI on sex video

Wan Azizah: I've no desire to watch the sex video

Zaid: I saw the sex video, too

Why sex video trio not charged?

Editors, journalists called up over sex video screening

Police reports against 'Datuk T' pour in

Hisham, arrest the datuks and we'll believe you

'Controlled viewing' pours doubt over sex video

Why not upload the clip on the Net?

VIDEO | 3.13 mins