Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim says former aide’s sexual assault claim is ‘politics at its worst’

Muhammed Yusoff Rawther accused the former deputy premier of attempting to force him to have sex in September last year

Anwar said the allegations were aimed at scuttling his planned takeover of the premiership

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Published: 6:17pm, 5 Dec 2019Updated: 1:46pm, 18 Dec 2019

Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia’s prime-minister-in-waiting, denied on Thursday that he had sexually assaulted a former male aide, describing the accusation as “politics at its worst” days before his ruling party’s annual congress.

On Wednesday, a statement issued by Anwar’s former aide, Muhammed Yusoff Rawther, accused the former deputy premier of attempting to force him to have sex in September last year.

Reuters could not immediately reach Muhammed Yusoff, but he read out the allegations in a Facebook Live broadcast on Wednesday. His statement was made to a law officer, according to a copy seen by Reuters.

Anwar has spent nearly a decade in jail on two separate counts of sodomy and for corruption, charges that he and his supporters maintain were aimed at ending his political career.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (R) and prime-minister-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim (L). Photo: EPA-EFE

“I heard about this a month ago. It’s not new, attempts to try and influence and bribe or whatever, but this is politics at its worst,” Anwar said on Thursday.

“Our congress is in two days, so you should anticipate all these sorts of things.”