Anwar Ibrahim has demanded an apology from Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Hamzah Zainuddin for accusing him of making a move on the latter’s wife or face a RM10 million lawsuit.

A copy of the letter of demand dated Aug 20 issued by Anwar’s lawyer Sankara Nair was obtained by Malaysiakini today.

hamzah zainuddin Hamzah had been quoted in the Kwong Wah Jit Poh newspaper as saying that Anwar had in 1998 tried to take advantage of his wife even though they were best of friends then.

He told the newspaper that Anwar had harrassed (kacau) his wife.

In view of this, the deputy minister told the daily that the people of Permatang Pauh should not vote for the opposition leader.

According to the lawyer, Hamzah's words have "(1) directly and/or indirectly and/or by innuendo, given an impression and the perception that our client is engaged in illicit sexual activities and/or habitually engages in similar activities, (2) is a man of low morals; (3) is a man of no Islamic values and (4) is of bad character."

Hamzah has 48 hours to reply or face legal action.

Sensational divorce settlement

anwar ibrahim 02 060207 Of late, Anwar has filed several legal suits against various politicians including Khairy Jamaludin, the prime minister’s son-in-law, accusing them of making defamatory remarks against him.

Anwar will be contesting in the Aug 26 Permatang Pauh by-election. A victory will mark his return to Parliament after a 10-year absence.

Hamzah, who is former state agency Felcra chief, was embroiled in a sensational divorce settlement in 2004 where he was ordered by the Perak Syariah Court to pay his ex-wife, Nooraini Abdul Rashid, a whopping RM11.2 million in cash and assets.

The judge also ordered Hamzah to transfer one-third of his 63 million shares to Nooraini or pay her RM10 million.

Nooraini brought the suit after Hamzah divorced her in 1996. Hamzah has since re-married and it was his new wife who was allegedly harrassed by Anwar.