KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 — Dismissing suspicion raised over its speedy response to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy conviction, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) explained today that it had prepared press statements for both guilty and not guilty verdicts.

In an email exchange with Malaysiakini, PMO insisted that this was normal procedure in any case involving public interest.

“It’s clear that the politicians, lawyers, communications teams and journalists involved with this case prepared text for guilty and not guilty verdicts.

“Similarly, the government prepared a statement in advance for either outcome. This is entirely standard professional practice, especially in a case that involves public interest.

“To suggest otherwise is intentionally misleading,” a spokesman was quoted telling the news portal.

Shortly after Anwar was delivered the guilty verdict yesterday, a statement from PMO was released, hailing the “independence” of the judiciary and pointing out that there have been many rulings against senior government figures.

“The judges will have reached their verdict only after considering all the evidence in a balanced and objective manner.

“Malaysia has an independent judiciary, and there have been many rulings against senior government figures,” it said.

The statement also said that sodomy complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan had the right to have his case heard in court as a “serious sexual assault” victim.

Critics later questioned PMO’s quick release of its response to the conviction, claiming that it suggests the possibility of collusion between the government and the judiciary.

Anwar himself, who was still in the dock when the statement was issued, touched on the matter when he interjected to address the panel of judges at the apex court.

The Opposition Leader, who was at the time waiting for the court’s decision on his jail term, said it was no coincidence that the office of the prime minister was able to release its response just minutes after he was declared guilty and even before he received his sentence.

He then accused the panel of judges of bowing to the dictates of their “political masters”, claiming they had committed crimes against the judiciary and sacrificed their integrity.

“You have sold your souls to the devil, bartering your conscience for material gain and comfort and security of office.

“You had the best opportunity to redeem yourselves — to right the wrongs of the past and put the judiciary on a clean slate and carve your names for posterity as true defenders of justice,” he charged.

The Federal Court had yesterday upheld the Court of Appeal’s conviction of Anwar for sodomising his former political aide Saiful, also keeping a five-year jail sentence.

With the jail sentence, Anwar now stands to lose his Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat as the law bars anyone fined over RM2,000 or imprisoned more than one year from serving as a lawmaker, unless a free pardon is granted.

The decision also leaves the Pakatan Rakyat opposition pact without a leader.