Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today that everybody has the right to perform a sumpah laknat oath but the government will not interfere by encouraging or deterring the act.
The prime minister was referring to the sumpah laknat oath taken by Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah today by swearing in God’s name that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is the man featured in a sex video that was recently shown to journalists.
Najib (picture), who is also the Umno president, stressed that individuals and political parties should take the same approach as the government.
He added that it would not matter if Shazryl or Anwar wants to perform the oath because in the end the public will evaluate the sincerity of the individuals.
“This is a personal issue and the matter does not concern Umno or the government. Whoever feels that they want to sumpah laknat then that is up to them. We don’t encourage and we won’t stop them.
“I think everybody must have the same attitude. Political parties should take attitude that this is a personal matter,” he told reporters after chairing Umno supreme council meeting here.
Shazryl, together with former Malacca Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik and Perkasa treasurer-general Datuk Shuib Lazim, arrived at Masjid Amru Al-As earlier today amid heavy security.
The three appeared to be wearing bullet-proof vests beneath their traditional baju Melayu.
Shazryl took the oath on behalf of “Datuk T”, the nickname the trio behind the latest sex scandal had adopted.
“I swear today that I and Anwar Ibrahim were in the video on February 21, 2011 and Anwar is the actor (in the video).
“If what I said today is false, then may Allah curse me,” he said to a witnessing imam while holding the Quran.
Najib also criticised PKR supporters that tried to sabotage the oath-taking for disrespecting the sanctity of the mosque.
“We must safeguard the sanctity of the mosque. In the mosque, nobody can threaten anybody as long as the mosque management allows it,” he said.
Najib defended newspapers for reporting the leaked sex video on broadcasting site Youtube.
“This is not a new matter. News of sex video has been reported way before this. Of course a newspaper has to report when it involves a leader but it has nothing to do with Umno,” he said.
He also ridiculed Anwar for attacking reporters when asked about the Omega watch and hinted that the opposition leader has something to hide.
“The question is why he does not want to answer? The people can conclude the reasons why he does not want to answer,” he said.
Datuk T claimed that they were in possession of an Omega watch left behind by Anwar in the sex video and has handed it to the police for further investigation.
Earlier, emotions ran high as PKR supporters waited for Shazryl’s arrival at the mosque after Friday prayers.
Hundreds crowded in an enclosed praying area circling Federal Territory Islamic Department (Jawi) officials sitting on the floor in front of the iman’s mimbar (rostrum).
The crowd began shouting “Liar”, “arrest him” and “Allah is great” while some began kicking the sitting officials, who included the Jawi director.
PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin told the crowd that swearing in God’s name was unIslamic while holding a booklet on the Qazaf — the Islamic ordinance on false accusations — in one hand.
“This is not the way. We want the Jawi director to read about Qazaf in this book.
“We want Qazaf!” he said to the roaring crowd.
The situation grew heated when plainclothes police officers tried to pull PKR supporters away, resulting in a shoving match.
As the crowd tried to diffuse the situation, Shamsul and his followers began praying nearby.
Then, the management of the mosque announced through the loudspeakers that the oath-taking ceremony has been cancelled and asked everybody to disperse.
Datuk T arrived two hours later through the back entrance of the mosque compound for Shazryl to perform the oath taking.
