PERMATANG PAUH: Pas spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan's method of swearing on the Quran was against the teachings of Islam.

He said the act of placing the hand on the Quran while taking the oath to declare that one was telling the truth was imitating what Christians did when they placed their hand on the Bible.

"In Islam, anyone can swear that they are telling the truth, but they do not have to hold the Quran," he said.

However, Nik Aziz noted that the sumpah laknat (swearing in the face of divine retribution) done by Mohd Saiful during the oath-taking was allowed by Islam.

It now depended on the sincerity of his oath that he had been sodomised by Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, he added.
On whether Anwar should do likewise to prove his innocence, Nik Aziz said in Islam, the accuser should be the one to do it to declare that he was telling the truth, and that later, the accused must defend himself.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh said Mohd Saiful's action of swearing on the Quran that he had been sodomised by Anwar could be interpreted as being contempt of court. This was because the sodomy case was pending in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.

"It's just a gimmick. I don't think it is right for Saiful to do, especially so now that the case is in court. One cannot do something that could influence the outcome of a case. This is certainly on the verge of contempt."

However, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said Mohd Saiful had every right to swear upon the Quran, adding that he had done so on his own free will.

Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib said there was no reason for Anwar not to swear upon the Quran if he had not sodomised Mohd Saiful.

PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, meanwhile, said that Mohd Saiful's act was an act to destroy Anwar's political career, and also to prevent him from winning the Permatang Pauh by-election.

"No matter how many times he swears, if the doctor checks and says there is nothing wrong, his oath cannot be used. Do not play around with the name of Allah. Do not degrade our religion."