IT has been almost two months since whistleblower site Sarawak Report claimed that Prime Minister Najib Razak had paid RM9.5 million to the lead prosecutor in Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy trial Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, and a senior PKR man is wondering what happened to the police investigation into the matter.

Yusmadi Yusoff, who is opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s political secretary, wants those who had lodged reports to ask the police what was the progress of the investigations.

“According to the amended Criminal Procedure Code, all police reports must be investigated. The police must also inform the complainants of the outcome of the probes,” he said in Penang today.

“I urge all the complainants to go back to the district police chiefs where they had lodged their reports to ask what had become of their complaints. Ask the police of the status,” he told the media in Penang today.

Yusmadi said it has been a long time since anyone had addressed the allegation.

“Even the party accused has not said anything, even after promising to issue a statement. 

“But we are more concerned about the police probe than Shafee’s response,” he said.

On May 31, Sarawak Report published an article alleging that Shafee had received money linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd in two transactions –  in September 2013 and February 2014. 

Anwar’s was found guilty of sodomy by the Appeals Court on March 7, 2014, after his High Court acquittal was overturned. He is now in jail for five years.

The revelation by Sarawak Report had led PKR and others in Pakatan Harapan to lodge police reports to urge the police to investigate the matter.

On June 9, Shafee said he would respond to the allegations against him by issuing a press statement. He has yet to issue one until today.

Yusmadi said there was the possibility of Anwar becoming the seventh prime minister, not the eighth, should Pakatan Harapan take Putrajaya in the next election.

He said the opposition was trying to set aside Anwar’s conviction for sodomy on reasons of fraud, under Section 44 of the Evidence Act.

“That case is still pending on court, and, now, we also have new facts to consider, like the RM9.5 million Shafee received.

“If we can prove wrongful conviction, that will pave the way for Anwar to be the seventh prime minister.”

Yusmadi earlier announced a symposium on Anwar Ibrahim’s Thinking, and the launch of the book “Anwar Ibrahim: Evolution of a Muslim Democrat” to be held this Saturday at the Penang Institute.

The symposium to discuss Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, finance minister and opposition leader, and his brand of thinking is organised by Penang Institute, Institut Darul Ehsan and the Penang Islamic Foundation. – July 27, 2017.