Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng and former Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon is set to debate on issues with specific focus on matters related to Penang, except the land scam issues, on 20 August in Shah Alam.

The venue for the debate has not been decided. However, both sides have decided that the debate shall be conducted in Malay and based on the US presidential debate format. Johan Jaafar, who moderated the debate between Anwar Ibrahim and Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek on 16 July will also moderate the debate between Lim and Koh.

The debate will be organized by news portal Agenda Daily and will be carried live by one of the TV stations of Media Prima, which operates TV3, NTV7, 8TV and TV9. Last month, TV9 had carried the debate between Anwar and Shabery live, which is also organized by Agenda Daily.

Today, Anwar Ibrahim is charged at the Sessions Court in Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur for sodomizing Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan under section 377B of the Penal Code on June 26 between 3.01pm and 4.30pm at Unit 11-5-1 Desa Damansara Condo in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.

Section 377B of the Penal Code reads:

Whoever voluntarily commits carnal intercourse against the order of nature shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to twenty years, and shall also be liable to whipping.

This means, Anwar is charged for consensual anal sex and not assault nor forced sex.

Anwar questioned why he was the only one brought to court if he was supposed to have had a consensual unnatural sexual act with his former aide, according to Malaysiakini.

“If it is consensual, why was I the only one being charged? This is a political persecution,” he said after he is released on a RM20,000 personal bond.

Anwar Ibrahim is charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code at the Sessions Court in Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur for sodomizing Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan before Sessions Court judge, SM Komathy.

The sodomy was alleged to have taken place between 3.01pm and 4.30pm in 11-5-1 of the Desa Damansara Condominium at 99, Jalan Setia Kasih, Bukit Damansara on June 26 2008.

“This is a malicious slander and I’m not guilty,” he told the judge.

Although there is speculation that he will be denied bail and put behind bars, the prosecution did not object to bail. The prosecution proposed a RM20,000 and that Anwar is required to surrender his passport.

The judge then set bail at RM20,000 without surety. However, Anwar is not required to surrender his passport as the judge is of the opinion that Anwar is not likely to abscond.

The case has been set for mention on 10 September 2008.

Present at the court complex to support Anwar are his wife Wan Azizah Ismail (PKR President), daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar (MP for Lembah Pantai), Azmin Ali (MP for Gombak) and Tian Chua (MP for Batu).

DAP leaders present include Lim Kit Siang (MP for Ipoh Timur), Lim Guan Eng (Penang Chief Minister) and Gobind Singh Deo (MP for Puchong). Also present is PAS leader, Husam Musa.

Based on Malaysiakini’s report as updated on 7 Aug 2008 10:40:00 & The Star Online’s report as updated on 7 Aug 2008 10:20:40.