IT wasn't a page one lead story by any account but what Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said at a press conference with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in Washington got a lot of people excited because it had everything to do with Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar has since said through his lawyer that he wanted Anifah to apologise within 24 hours or he would sue for defamation because Anifah had claimed to have been offered a lucrative job if he was prepared to abandon Umno/Barisan Nasional to join Anwar's Pakatan Rakyat. From what I read, the Bernama report said there was of an offer of "a lucrative job.... akin to the post of deputy prime minister" but the Star had as its headline "Anwar offered me the DPM's post, says Anifah".
My understanding is that there is a big difference between "a lucrative job akin to the post of DPM" and being offered the DPM's post itself. But anyway the threat to sue was based on a newspaper report, which is treated differently by different people. If it's positive a bloke applauds the press but if it's the other way round, the normal reaction is to say "It's only a newspaper report..... how can I comment on a newspaper report." Sounds familiar?
Anifah subsequently said he didn't have time to worry about the impending suit, which some read to mean that he didn't have time to worry about Anwar, which again are two statements with completely different meanings.
We all know of course of Anwar's failed attempt to entice Umno/BN Members of Parliament to defect to allow him to control Parliament by last September 16. Despite telling not just the country but also the world, so unsuccessful was he that not even ONE crossed over! We all heard about secret rendezvous with possible defectors from Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia in Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila and Dubai, with many of the stories coming from Anwar himself. We also heard from Anwar about how apparently one bloke called him to ask that he be included in the list! Such was the support he said he had but in fact never had.....
But I honestly hope Anwar will sue Anifah and if that happens, I also hope that Anifah will be able to provide proof of an offer, any offer. What a case in court will do is to provide gossipy details which most of us are not aware of. It will definitely titillate us to no end and there will be witnesses telling us about what happened behind closed doors. There's no better way to have mud and filth thrown around than in a court case.
Will Anwar sue? Gee, god knows. He once said from Sungai Buloh prison that he was going to sue an Australian news report for an allegation against him and his family but I don't remember Anwar ever getting down to doing it, so there's no way of telling until the documents are filed at the court registry.
NO PENANTI FOR BN AFTER ALL
ALL things considered, a wise and practical decision by the BN supreme council. I said here soon after the seat was declared vacant that maybe BN should consider not contesting and instead concentrate on doing more positive things like taking care of the economy. The only issue at stake is bragging rights because so firmly under the control of Pakatan is Penang that even five victories by Barisan will not alter the equation.
Not contesting means a lot of money and time saved -- money on printing posters and paying party election workers. Apart from the Election Commission, each party contesting will have to spend a few million ringgit at least. We can expect Pakatan to take a dig at Barisan for not contesting but how long will that last and how much does it affect the ego? Should be "What me worry?" for Barisan.....
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