Anwar's aide 'quit a day before sex attack report'

PHOTO: MALAYSIA-TODAY.NET

KUALA LUMPUR - A DAY after he was allegedly sexually assaulted by Anwar Ibrahim, opposition party worker Saiful Bukhari Azlan (left) reportedly sent him an email saying he was resigning because he felt that he was unqualified and lacked the discipline for the job.

The email - in which he said he arrived at the decision after much 'reflection and contemplation' - came a day before he lodged a police report against his former boss, online newspaper Malaysiakini said yesterday.

An e-mail believed to be from Mr Saiful was made available to Malaysiakini, in which he revealed his decision to quit.

The e-mail, dated June 27, was sent to Mr Anwar and Mr Ibrahim Yaacob, chief of staff of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), from Mr Saiful's Blackberry phone at 3.01am.

The content and receipt of the e-mail messages were confirmed to The Straits Times by PKR secretary-general Sallehuddin Hashim.

Mr Saiful made his police report last Saturday, saying he had been sexually attacked by Mr Anwar last Thursday.

In his e-mail message, he said he was quitting due to his lack of discipline, and that he was unqualified for the job.

'This is the conclusion from my reflections of myself.

'1. Indiscipline. Not punctual.

'2. Unqualified. It will make it easier for your enemies to attack you and tarnish your image.

'For the sake of your well-being and the party's, I regret to inform you that I am submitting my resignation as your private assistant effective today.

'Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work. All the knowledge that you've bestowed upon me will be used as best as possible.'

Mr Anwar sent him a reply in an e-mail just over three hours later, at 6.28am.

He wrote: 'Thank you for continuing your services and (good luck with) your university education.

'You have served with sincerity, loyalty and commitment. There is more knowledge to be gained. Haha.

'Ibrahim will coordinate your tasks after this as best as he can.'

By saying Mr Saiful would be 'continuing' his services and that Mr Ibrahim would 'coordinate your tasks after this', it is unclear if Mr Anwar meant the young man would serve in another capacity.

Mr Ibrahim said the e-mail address belongs to Mr Saiful. But he is sceptical as to whether the resignation letter was actually written by the man.

'I received that e-mail that day and I could tell that it is not his style. It could have been authored by somebody else,' he told Malaysiakini.