Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia today warned that turning up in support for Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim at his sodomy appeal in Putrajaya on Tuesday, would be tantamount to backing homosexuality.

 

As such, the newspaper in an editorial column, said Muslims and PAS members in particular, would be better off turning up in support of their president Abdul Hadi Awang who is facing a defamation suit by a PKR member in Kuala Terengganu on the same day.

 

"Some Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transexual (LBGT) organisations want the prosecution against Anwar to be dropped on the premise that sodomy is a freedom, not a crime, and reject Allah’s condemnation of the act.

 

"For this movement, supporting Anwar is important for LGBT rights. Muslims, particularly PAS members should be smart in deciding which values they want to carry.

 

"Do they want to get involved with LGBT organisations that glorify deviant cultures? If in doubt, make a decision that brings least damage to Islam, it's simple," it wrote under the newspaper's official pseudonym Awang Selamat.

 

The newspaper, in is Sunday edition Mingguan Malaysia today, added that Tuesday would be a test of loyalty for PAS members when they make a choice of supporting Anwar or Hadi ( left ).

 

Anwar, who has been sentenced to five years in jail for allegedly sodomising his former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan, will go through his final appeal of the case at the Federal Court on Oct 28 and 29.

 

 He has maintained the charge, the second of its kind against him, is politically motivated. 

 

Anwar is temporarily free on bail and has been mobilising support with a series of rallies ahead of his appeal.

 

PAS president’s defamation trial

Meanwhile, Monday will also be the first day of Hadi's trial for defamation after he accused PKR candidates in the 13th general election of being drug dealers to justify his action of placing PAS members to contest in PKR seats, creating a three cornered fight against BN.

 

The defamation suit was brought by Mohd Shamsul Mat Amin, PKR's defeated Bukit Besi state seat candidate, who claimed Hadi's accusation had cast aspersions on him, leading to his poor performance in the general election.

 

Even though it was agreed by the Pakatan leadership that PKR would contest the seat, Mohd Shamsul only garnered a meagre 52 votes while PAS managed to win 4,408 votes.

 

BN captured the state constituency with 6,966 votes, a 2,558-vote majority.