Wan Azizah: Anwar's imprisonment 'a sacrifice'

PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail considers the decision by the Federal Court today to uphold a five-year prison sentence against her husband Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on a sodomy charge 'a sacrifice' for his struggle.

"Praise be to God, this is one of our struggles, perhaps a little sacrifice from among my circle, my children and grandchildren, but this is a real struggle, not to Anwar's alone.

"What Anwar said (to me) is to be strong," she said when met by reporters outside the courtroom after hearing the Federal Court's verdict upholding Anwar's sodomy conviction here.

Wan Azizah said she and her family will continue the struggle, although they have to bear through this very sad and tragic moment.

"I'm not saying that we are strong, but we find strength in the people and in their support," she said.

Anwar today failed in his final appeal at the Federal Court against his conviction and five-year jail sentence of sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, at Unit 11-5-1 of the Desa Damansara Condominium, Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, between 3.10pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.

In the meantime, Wan Azizah said Pakatan Rakyat will hold a meeting in the near future to determine the future of the pact and find a possible successor to Anwar to lead the opposition.

Meanwhile, Anwar's oldest daughter, Nurul Izzah, said the Federal Court's decision to uphold the five-year jail term imposed by the Court of Appeal was indeed a tragic day for her family.

"Yes, we are sad, we are devastated, but we will definitely continue our struggle," said the Lembah Pantai MP.