Malaysia’s Anwar Denies Ex-Staffer’s Sexual Harassment Claims

(Bloomberg) -- The political leader touted as Malaysia's next prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, is facing fresh allegations of sexual harassment from a former staff member as his party prepares for its annual national congress this weekend.

The 72-year-old politician on Thursday denied making multiple physical advances last year against the alleged victim, who appeared to sign a statutory declaration uploaded on a Facebook page. Anwar's aide has lodged a police report over the matter, while his lawyer also planned to send a letter of demand to the accuser.

“This action was done to destroy my image ahead of the 14th National Justice Congress and the national leadership transition process,” Anwar said in a statement released Thursday. “On the alleged date, I was busy carrying out my campaign for the Port Dickson by-election and attending the Mahatma Gandhi 150th Birth Anniversary Memorial Event in Kuala Lumpur and returned to Port Dickson to resume my campaigning.”

In a video uploaded to a Facebook page, the man who identified himself as the victim said the incident was morally repugnant, criminal and had left him deeply traumatized. A family member later said in a statement issued through Anwar's party the man was manipulated by politicians to serve their own interest.

‘Question Marks'

The accusation comes months after Azmin Ali, the minister of economic affairs widely seen as a rival to Anwar, fought against allegations that he was featured in videos showing him engaged in sexual acts with another man. Malaysia's police failed to link the people in the videos with the accused minister, and concluded that a political party leader was the mastermind behind the clips. The police, who didn't name the leader or the party, remanded and then released Anwar's political secretary in July.

Read more: Mahathir the Victor as Sex Video Roils Malaysia Ruling Party

Anwar was accused of committing the offense at his home in Kuala Lumpur last October, just five months after he was pardoned and released from prison in May over an unrelated sodomy conviction.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has said he will hand over the leadership to former rival Anwar once the country is on good footing, but the scandals may see him extend his stay in power as the ruling coalition struggles to contain internal rifts. Mahathir looks set to stay until at least November next year, when he plans to become the only prime minister to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' meeting twice.

The accusations emerged just days before Anwar is set to attend and officiate the People's Justice Party, or PKR, annual congress for the first time in his capacity as the party president.

“I don't see these accusations as having any effect on the party,” said PKR leader Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who dismissed the issue as political. He said there were too many question marks over the timing of the accusation, and the dates produced by the accuser.

“So many allegations have been thrown about, this is nothing compared to what the party has gone through the past.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Anisah Shukry in Kuala Lumpur at ashukry2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Yudith Ho at yho35@bloomberg.net, Ruth Pollard

©2019 Bloomberg L.P.