Malaysian opposition leader Anwar refuses DNA testing

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has refused to allow his DNA to be collected to disprove sodomy allegations as he feared it could be used to frame him, his lawyer said Friday.

Anwar, who was detained by police on Wednesday and released on bail Thursday, said he had consented to a full medical check but refused to allow his blood sample to be collected for DNA testing, reported dpa.

Anwar said he fears the police could plant his DNA on his accuser who is living under police protection, saying that authorities had fabricated evidence against him in his 1998 jailing for sodomy.

"In 1998-99 trials, Anwar experienced the phenomenon of fabrication of DNA evidence," his lawyer Sivarasa Rasiah said.

"Anwar has even more reason to believe the probability that DNA evidence will be fabricated once again," he said in a statement.

Anwar was sacked as a deputy prime minister in 1998 and jailed on charges of sodomy and abuse of power.

He was later cleared of the sodomy charge, but served six years on the charge of corruption.

He maintains that he was framed by then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad during a power struggle.

During March 8 elections, Anwar lead a three-party opposition alliance to make major gains, denying the ruling government of a two-thirds majority for the first time in history.

Anwar had vowed to lead the opposition in taking over government on September 16, after claiming that several sitting legislators indicated their willingness to change to his party.

But his plans encountered a hitch after a 23-year old male aide lodged a report alleging that Anwar had sodomized him.

After his release from detention on Thursday, Anwar brushed aside questions regarding his September 16 plans.

"I'll talk about that another time. I was just released from lock-up," he told reporters.

Anwar denied the allegations, and claimed they were made to thwart his political rise to power.