5 Things To Know About The Port Dickson Candidate Who Accused Anwar Of Sodomy In 2008

A former aide of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president-elect, Saiful had claimed that his decision to run against Anwar in the by-election was not motivated by the sodomy allegation he brought against his former boss.

"This is not about revenge... this is purely me entering a democratic process in Malaysia," Saiful was previously quoted as saying by SCMP.

"This is my official entry into national politics, and I might as well make it a grand entrance. If you want to test your limit, test the hardest battle," Saiful told Channel NewsAsia recently as well.

Anwar had been serving his five-year jail sentence up till his full pardon by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in May, following the 14th General Election. 

Throughout the legal battle, Saiful had always maintained that he was indeed sodomised by Anwar.

Saiful, who was a student leader at Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) for the 2006/2007 term, reportedly dropped out of school because of poor results. 

According to The Star, then 23-year-old Saiful left school with two-and-a-half years to go in his electrical engineering course. He only took up the course because of a scholarship. 

A 2010 blog post by a UNITEN student group revealed that Saiful failed to achieve a minimum of 2.0 CGPA in the two semesters following his appointment as a student leader.

Saiful's alleged results during his time at UNITEN were posted on Lowyat:

- 1.0 CGPA in Semester 1 (2006/2007),
- 0.8 CGPA in Semester 2,
- and 1.69 CGPA in Semester 3 (early 2008).

Doubts remain on Saiful's election as a student leader because candidates were required to obtain at least 3.0 CGPA in order to be appointed.

According to The Edge Markets, Saiful wanted to pursue pilot training in Kelantan after dropping out of UNITEN.

He had approached a friend to obtain a letter of recommendation for his loan application to pursue pilot training in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. 

The Star reported in 2008 that Saiful swore on the Quran in front of press members and religious officials at the Federal Territory mosque that Anwar did sodomise him without consent. 

"I swear that I was sodomised by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on 26 June 2008. If I make a lie in this confession, then I am making a falsehood against Allah, and I am willing to accept His suffering, curse, and damnation until Judgement Day," Saiful said.

In 2012, Saiful allegedly went to Mecca to swear again that he was sodomised by Anwar, reported Utusan Online.

The couple's start-up, Nang Surya, trains people on how to handle journalists and conduct themselves in politics, reported Malaysiakini in 2016. 

"We provide consultation services on how to hold press conferences, issue statements, and how to answer provocative questions from reporters," Saiful was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini.

Nang Surya also sells women's apparel. 

A former university mate of Saiful, Mohd Najwan Halimi told the court in 2011 that he had written an email to Anwar to explain that Saiful was a Barisan Nasional supporter, reported Utusan Online.

Najwan added that not only was Saiful not a fan of Anwar, he "hated" the PKR president-elect. 

Moreover, Najwan was surprised to see Saiful being next to Anwar during the campaign period of the 12th General Election. 

The Malaysian Insight reported that only RM1,565.11 were collected up till 4 October to fund Saiful's campaign in Port Dickson, which will be used to print his posters, flags, and other campaign material. 

He insists that no one is behind his decision to run in the by-election.