Malaysia opposition leader Anwar's daughter makes emotional appeal in YouTube video

Ms Nurul Izzah Anwar, the eldest daughter of Mr Anwar Ibrahim, has recently released an emotional video in a last-ditch effort to rally support for the opposition leader who could once again be thrown behind bars for convicted sodomy. -- PHOTO: SCREE
Ms Nurul Izzah Anwar, the eldest daughter of Mr Anwar Ibrahim, has recently released an emotional video in a last-ditch effort to rally support for the opposition leader who could once again be thrown behind bars for convicted sodomy. -- PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM YOUTUBE

THE ELDEST daughter of Mr Anwar Ibrahim has recently released an emotional video in a last-ditch effort to rally support for the opposition leader who could once again be thrown behind bars for convicted sodomy.

In the YouTube video entitled "Sacrifice" put up on Sunday, Ms Nurul Izzah Anwar sought to establish a connection between Mr Anwar's fate and the future of Malaysia by listing the achievements notched by the Anwar-led opposition over the years, which includes denying the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition of its long-held two-thirds majority in the 2008 elections.

"Yet, despite all these, if we still decide that Anwar Ibrahim's trial is a mere personal issue, marginalised to the sidelines of history, then we might as well accept the fact that the government knows best, that corruption's acceptable," said Ms Nurul Izzah, vice-president of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat headed by her mother, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

"You know that the Anwar Ibrahim trial is an affront to our judiciary... an affront to the litany of corruption cases that takes place with no one being held responsible... so persevere, fight on," said the 33-year-old Lembah Pantai MP.

This is Mr Anwar's second sodomy trial. He was previously convicted in 2000 for sexually assaulting his former family driver before being freed from jail in 2004 after winning an appeal.

In the second case of sodomy, Mr Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan accused his former boss, Mr Anwar, of sodomising him at a condominium after the 2008 general election.

The opposition leader was acquitted by the High Court in 2012, but the decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal in March this year. Mr Anwar is making his final appeal at the Federal Court.

Towards the end of the video, Ms Nurul Izzah who had been composed throughout the three-and-a-half minute recording appeared emotional when she called on supporters to show up on Tuesday at the Federal Court where the hearing would take place. The hearing, that was supposed to have ended on Wednesday, has been extended until Friday.

"Sacrifice. We shall miss our father but remember he's not alone," she said.

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