KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's special officer Khairil Annas Jusoh has threatened legal action against an opposition news website and paper for defamation.

In a statement yesterday, Khairil said Suara Keadilan Online and Siasah had accused him of being the mastermind behind Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan swearing on the Quran that he had been sodomised by opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The two opposition media reported that imam Ramlang Porigi, who solemnised Saiful's oath, claimed to have been approached by Khairil at the Kuala Lumpur Mosque on Aug 15, to preside over the ceremony. The reports accused him of orchestrating the timing and event of the swearing.

Khairil claimed that it was a case of mistaken identity as he was in Penang with family and friends on the date mentioned. He also denied ever knowing, meeting or talking to Ramlang.

On top of the legal action, Khairil also demanded a public apology from the two opposition media and Ramlang so that his reputation can be redeemed.