FORMER PKR staffer Muhammad Yusoff Rawther has been given 24 hours to clarify his sexual misconduct allegation made against party president Anwar Ibrahim, said Ramkarpal Singh.

Ramkarpal, who is representing Anwar, said this was stated in a letter of demand sent to Yusoff today.

“We want him to confirm if he has made the statutory declaration. It is still unclear,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“We have given him 24 hours to confirm it. If he fails to do so, then we will take legal action.”

Ramkarpal also said that a police report has been lodged in relation to the contents of the press conference by Yusoff and the statutory declaration, as the affirmation of a false declaration can be a crime.

Earlier today, Anwar dismissed his former staffer’s sexual misconduct accusation as an attempt to discredit him.

“I have seen the allegation made by Muhammad Yusoff Rawther in the media and on social media,” he said in a statement today.

“I reject such baseless slander.”

Yesterday, Yusoff said Anwar committed a sexual offence against him at the latter’s home in Bukit Segambut last year.

Yusoff, a researcher at the PKR president’s office from September last year to May, said he detailed the incident in a statutory declaration, with evidence attached.

Anwar said he was campaigning for the Port Dickson by-election on the date the alleged incident took place.

“I attended an event to remember Mahatma Gandhi in Kuala Lumpur, and returned to Port Dickson to continue campaigning,” adding Yusoff’s family has issued a statement questioning the timing of his allegation.

“This is clearly an attempt to destroy my image (in the lead-up to) the PKR national congress, and at a time when the (prime minister’s) succession plan is under way.”

Anwar has twice been charged with sodomy, in 1998 and 2008. Both times, he denied the accusation against him as slander aimed at crushing his reputation.

On September 2, 2004, the Federal Court overturned the conviction in the first case.

In the second case, Anwar was granted a pardon by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shortly after Pakatan Harapan won the general election in May last year, allowing him to walk free after serving time since February 2015. – December 5, 2019.