(File pix) Former aide to opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan (pix) today slammed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for calling for Anwar’s release from prison. Pix by Nik Hariff Hassan
(File pix) Former aide to opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan (pix) today slammed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for calling for Anwar’s release from prison. Pix by Nik Hariff Hassan

KUALA LUMPUR: Former aide to opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan today slammed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for calling for Anwar’s release from prison.

Saiful Bukhari said Dr Mahathir was blind to the facts of the criminal case to serve his desperate political objective.

"As former prime minister, Dr Mahathir should know better. I am the real victim of Anwar's criminal act."

"It is true that in politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies, just interest. That interest, unfortunately, is serving the worse, trumping justice and truth over power," he wrote on his Facebook.

Yesterday, Dr Mahathir who is Pakatan Harapan chairman, pushed for the government to look into releasing Anwar from his five-year jail sentence after being convicted of sodomising Saiful.

Dr Mahathir had cited Anwar's health condition as the reason to be considered for release immediately.

Saiful Bukhari reminded Dr Mahathir that he had expressed his sympathy towards him as a victim in October 2014.

“I express my regret that Dr Mahathir chose to mischievously politicise a case that has been decided by the court. I urge him to respect the court’s decision.”