Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has denied that he struck a deal with Anwar Ibrahim before the rebel politician was freed last week after nearly six years in jail.
"I don't deal with anybody," Abdullah was quoted as saying by several newspapers Sunday, rejecting foreign reports that a behind-the-scenes agreement may have led the Federal Court to quash Anwar's sodomy conviction on Thursday.
"They are all speculation," he said. Surprise over the court's decision sparked rumours that Anwar and Abdullah had made a deal under which he would be freed in return for either keeping a low political profile or returning to the fold of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).
Anwar, 57, a former deputy prime minister and vice-president of UMNO, and his wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail who heads the opposition National Justice Party (Keadilan), have also strongly denied any deal.