MALAYSIA: SACKED DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ANWAR LATEST SITUATION

English/Nat Malaysia's police chief says sacked deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim tried to interfere with a criminal investigation against him. He said that police were investigating four new reports accusing Anwar of tampering with evidence and intimidating witnesses. Since Anwar was sacked as deputy prime minister and finance minister on Wednesday, he has been dogged by allegations of sexual misconduct and leaking state secrets. The sacking followed months of disagreement over economic policies with Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad -- once assumed to be grooming Anwar for the top post. Anwar Ibrahim, who was sacked from the two posts of deputy prime minister and finance minister of Malaysia on Wednesday by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. He's said he'll keep in politics -- possibly setting up a splinter group of the ruling party or even joining the opposition. Here he's welcoming Lim Kit Siang, the opposition leader of Parliament and his one-time chief antagonist, into his home. Anwar's sacking should worry all Malaysians, said Lim. SOUNDBITE: (English) "If the second highest post in the country, the Deputy Prime Minister in the country cannot get justice then I think we should worry about how Malaysians can get justice." SUPER CAPTION: Lim Kit Siang, opposition leader of Malaysian Parliament Lim later emerged from a closed-door meeting and called for an emergency Parliament session to be convened to discuss Anwar's plight. However, he denied that Anwar was planning to align himself with Malaysia's opposition forces. Mahathir sacked Anwar following months of disagreements over the economy. Foreign minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is a loyal supporter of Mahathir. Abdullah, who's among the front-runners for the vacant deputy prime minister position, told Anwar to seek justice in the courts if he felt he'd been victimised. Anwar was a hypocrite, implied Abdullah. He'd enjoyed the perks of power and now was turning against the government. SOUNDBITE: (English) "It is going to give the wrong impression to the people about the situation in Malaysia. He is perhaps trying to use this campaign as one for reform. I do not know what reforms he is talking about. He has been in the government for so long. He has been enjoying the position of deputy prime minister and all the perks and everything for 10 years. What has he been doing? He must have failed." SUPER CAPTION: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mahathir must have had a reason to sack Anwar, he said. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I do not believe that Mahathir would want to play politics with his deputy. But something has happened, obviously, there must be something, I am convinced there must be something that has convinced Mahathir that some action has to be taken even at a time when we are facing economic difficulties." SUPER CAPTION: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Malaysian Foreign Minister With the country in economic difficulties, Malaysians should be pulling together to solve them, said the foreign minister. And, he added, Anwar shouldn't politicise his sacking and stir up public sympathy from the streets. SOUNDBITE: (English) "This actually is irresponsible. He fully knows that this is the time that we are facing economic problems and is the time when we need political stability and all of us should be together to support efforts for economic recovery. And yet, he is looking for support to solve his problems. Obviously, it is his problem. He is taking the matter to the streets, taking matters to the ordinary people, giving his version of what he did. He says he knows there are others who are out to destroy his political career." SUPER CAPTION: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Malaysian Foreign Minister You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/4979c0b027df97ac713bebeba712bc09 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork