PETALING JAYA, Dec 17: Speaking to the press a day after being slapped with suspension from parliament, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim blasted US-based image consultant firm APCO Worldwide for getting involved in domestic politics and in parliamentary proceedings.
“What is this APCO? Our parliament? To the extent it cannot be questioned? Why does APCO involve in the country’s politics.
"APCO should not be involved with UMNO. They have to answer, and be more responsible, thanks to them, four members of parliaments were suspended without due process,” he said.
Yesterday, speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia's bid to suspend Anwar and three other MPs, Karpal Singh, Sivarasa Rasiah and Azmin Ali, caused a ruckus when Pakatan Rakyat MPs protested Pandikar's chairing of the session due to his membership in the Rights and Privileges Committee which recommended Anwar's suspension. The motions to suspend Anwar and the three others were in the end passed without debate, after PR MPs staged a walkout.
Yesterday, speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia's bid to suspend Anwar and three other MPs, Karpal Singh, Sivarasa Rasiah and Azmin Ali, caused a ruckus when Pakatan Rakyat MPs protested Pandikar's chairing of the session due to his membership in the Rights and Privileges Committee which recommended Anwar's suspension. The motions to suspend Anwar and the three others were in the end passed without debate, after PR MPs staged a walkout.
Earlier, the Committee said Anwar ought to be suspended for six months over his statement that APCO - a company with links to Israeli politicians - got the inspiration for the 1Malaysia slogan from the 'One Israel' slogan not long ago.
Vindicated
Anwar said news reports had furnished details about APCO’s advice to Prime Minister Najib Razak on his '1Malaysia' concept.
Anwar said news reports had furnished details about APCO’s advice to Prime Minister Najib Razak on his '1Malaysia' concept.
“There was no denying from Najib. APCO denied it was involved with Israel. I provided the document to prove the Israeli government had links with APCO. So what’s the issue?
"The issue is (that) it turns out that UMNO who alleged someone as Jewish agents is the one who signed the agreement,” said Anwar, in apparaent reference to frequent accusation by UMNO leaders that he was a "Jewish agent".
“I repeat, for the last 12 years I have been accused of being a Jewish agent. UMNO uses this campaign in all the kampungs. But I now proved that they are not only using a Jewish company but also a company that has a headquarters in Israel," Anwar added.
