They are shocked that he has now become a hot conversation topic and vilified by many people.

'He was active in the student body, even becoming vice-president of the student council at one point,' a friend identified as Donny was quoted as saying yesterday by the New Straits Times (NST) newspaper.

Last Saturday, Mr Saiful, 23, accused opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim of sodomising him, sparking a political storm.

The young man was an electrical and electronics engineering student at Universiti Tenaga Nasional in Putrajaya before dropping out because of poor grades earlier this year.

His friends said he was well-liked by fellow students and lecturers, with some of his friends looking up to him as a role model, NST reported.

'He would help everyone, regardless of race or class, a genuine kind of person. That was why I was shocked when I read his claims on having been sodomised by Anwar,' said another friend, identified only as Daniel.

He said Mr Saiful, who had been active in the university's Islamic club, did not show any homosexual tendencies.

Another friend dismissed talk that Mr Saiful was 'pro-Umno' or 'pro-government' based on the pictures of him posing with Cabinet ministers now circulating on the Internet.

'Saiful probably just wanted to show off to his friends that he had met these politicians. That is the only reason why he had pictures taken with them.

'If he had met other politicians like Lim Kit Siang, he would have taken pictures with them too,' the friend said.

Meanwhile, Mr Saiful's uncle, who wished to be known as Pat, said the family would be hiring a lawyer soon.

'I cannot say anything more,' he told reporters waiting outside Mr Saiful's home in Bandar Utama, a middle-class neighbourhood near Kuala Lumpur.

The uncle had scheduled a press conference yesterday, but changed his mind at the sight of nearly 50 foreign and local reporters camping outside the double-storey terrace house.

Mr Saiful is said to be under police protection at an unknown location.

His family say they have not heard from him ever since he lodged his police report on Saturday night.