KUANTAN, MALAYSIA - The sodomy allegation against Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim could be an act to gain the people's sympathy, deputy Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said.

"If he can say it's a government conspiracy against him, then I can also say that it's his conspiracy as part of his efforts to take over the country.

"Now when he is in the soup, he is claiming it is a set-up," Khairy said after a meeting with state Umno Youth leaders at Kampung Chendor near here yesterday.

He said it was best for the police to investigate the case to end all the speculation.

"Let the police do their duty and determine who is right and who is lying."
Khairy denied Anwar's claims that the allegation was intended to smear his image.

"We are running the country and he is not the prime minister. We have no reason to commit such an act."

In George Town, the state Parti Keadilan Rakyat Youth pledged support for Anwar following the latest sodomy allegation.

"I hope all members and supporters will remain calm following this development and we should rally behind Anwar," its vice-chief Ahmad Azrizal Tahir said.

He also said the state PKR Youth was looking into the possibility of lodging a police report on the allegation.

"We believe it was fabricated to prevent him from coming out in public to release details of alleged misconduct of Tan Sri Musa Hassan and the attorney-general (Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail) during his trials between 1998 and 1999."