Saturday, September 5, 1998

Anwar's sacking too extreme, says PAS president

ALOR STAR: PAS has questioned the sacking of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as deputy prime minister and finance minister.

Its president, Datuk Fadzil Noor, said although Anwar's removal was the Government's prerogative, the action was far ''too extreme."

He said the removal had also deprived Anwar of any platform to explain to the people the allegations which had been made against him.

To a question on whether PAS was opening its door to Anwar, Fadzil said ''the matter does not arise at all for the time being."

In Petaling Jaya, DAP secretary-general Lim Kit Siang called for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to probe the allegations of sexual misconduct and treason against Anwar.

He said the commission could also investigate Anwar's allegations that ''the instruments of government" had been manipulated in a political conspiracy to topple him.

In Kuala Lumpur, former DAP leaders Wee Choo Keong, Liew Ah Kim and Fung Ket Wing urged opposition leaders not to get involved in the internal affairs of Umno.

The three urged opposition leaders to emphasise national interest and economic recovery.

International Movement for a Just World president Dr Chandra Muzaffar urged the Prime Minister to give the reasons for Anwar's sacking from the Cabinet and Umno.

He said Anwar should be given a chance to defend himself in open court.

''Anwar's supporters, however angry they may be by his sacking, should not do anything that can be construed as transgression of the law," he said in a statement.