The government should be pragmatic and accept facts. It should not go on a witch-hunt for the sole purpose of destroying its political opponent, said DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh today.

He was responding to Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar’s comments on the recent twist to Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan’s sodomy claims against opposition stalwart Anwar Ibrahim.

karpal singh "It is pointless to pursue the police investigation if the fundamental requirement of the allegation stands unproven," said Karpal, who is also a lawyer, in a statement.

On Monday, a leaked medical report from Hospital Puswari revealed that there was no evidence that Mohd Saiful was sodomised.

Mohd Saiful, who was Anwar's former aide, visited the private-owned Hospital Puswari and later a government hospital before lodging a police report on June 28 alleging that the PKR de facto leader had sodomised him on several occasions in a luxury condo in Damansara.

During a press conference yesterday, Anwar called on the police to stop probing the sodomy allegation and the Attorney-General's Chambers to wrap up the case.

syed hamid albar However, Syed Hamid disagreed.

In a New Straits Times report, the minister said:"He (Anwar) has not been charged yet. What are we supposed to drop? This is not a media court."

"Evidence is a chain. It is not one single piece upon which you make your decision. If there is a charge, it will be in the court of law. This is due process," he added.

Fundamental ingredient

Elaborating, Karpal said the Hospital Pusrawi medical report "is a fundamental ingredient to be proved in the case" and that the government hospital's findings do not matter.

saiful bukhari pusrawi hospital "No doubt, evidence is a chain. However, if one single fundamental in that chain is brittle, the strength of the entire chain comes to naught.

"There is no question of the investigation being dropped. To put correctly, the police investigation should be discontinued," he added.

Karpal said the investigation should also be discontinued to avert further waste of public funds.

"The world is watching developments in the police investigation. The negative impact of what is now going on will be counter productive to Malaysia's image in the eyes of the international world.

"There is no question of the AG discontinuing police investigations. Under Article 145 (3) of the Federal Constitution, the AG can only discontinue a prosecution and the position has not come to that yet.

"However, the police can discontinue an investigation which is doomed to failure. It should do so forthwith," he added.

At a press conference this morning, Hospital Pusrawi stated that its doctor did not conduct a sodomy related examination on Saiful.

Previous report

Doctor: No evidence of sodomy