Anwar: I’ll be around for appeal against sodomy conviction

SHAH ALAM: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he will remain in Malaysia for his sodomy conviction appeal before the Federal Court despite offers to go into exile abroad.

Addressing delegates at the end of the two-day PKR congress, the party adviser said he had received several offers by “foreign leaders” to go overseas.

“I met up with a few foreign leaders who advised me to go overseas to escape a possible prison sentence.

“At my age, they say they cannot imagine seeing me behind bars,” said Anwar.

He, however, said that he would remain in the country as he was confident that the Federal Court would find in his favour.

He said this in response to a suggestion by former PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin that mass rallies would be held if Anwar were to be jailed again.

On another matter, Anwar said he had defended Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim several times against calls by party leaders for his removal.

“I defended him many times. He had many good points such as transparency and honesty and I even held his hand and asked him to listen to the others,” he said.

Anwar added that Khalid’s removal had nothing to do with contracts or positions.

“He followed the rules and did not easily approve projects and that was a good thing,” he said.

Anwar, however, said Khalid failed to handle issues such as the state water crisis, the Kidex highway project and garbage collection in Kajang.