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From: AP
Date: 07 May 1999
Time: 06:18:16
A star witness for the prosecution in the case against former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim plans to publish a tell-all book explaining why she accused him of the sodomy charges that led to his jailing.
"I want Malaysians to know my side of the story," businesswoman Ummi Hafilda Ali, 32, was quoted as saying in the Star newspaper.
Anwar's fall from government and six-year jail term for abuse of power resulted from investigations into a letter written by Ms Ummi in 1997 to premier Mahathir Mohamad. She accused Anwar of adultery and sodomy.
On Tuesday, a judge set Anwar's sodomy trial for June 7. The judge also issued a gag-order barring the media from publishing anything but "factual evidence" presented during the trial. It is unclear whether her book will be allowed in light of the order and earlier orders.
Ms Ummi said the book, which she is writing herself and hopes to finish by August, would be entitled either Ummi: The True Story or Anwar vs Ummi.
It will chronicle her experiences after writing the letter in 1997 and end with the aftermath of Anwar's conviction on April 14.
"The book is very important to me because so much has been said about me," she said.
Ms Ummi says her name has been smeared by the trial, in which Anwar's lawyers said she was in love with Anwar and acted against him for spurning her.