The scandal’s timing is fishy, and Malaysia’s rulers haven’t hesitated to squelch dissent in the past.
Just a few years ago, Anwar Ibrahim—Malaysia’s former deputy prime minister turned opposition leader—was behind bars, and the career of this Western- and market-friendly reformer seemed over. Then, last March, Anwar shocked even his most devout supporters by roaring back onto the political scene, leading the opposition to record gains in parliamentary elections. His opposition coalition won control of five of Malaysia’s 13 states and 49 percent of the overall vote. Since then, he has sought to solidify his power base. He announced plans to run for Parliament himself in a by-election in July, and recently said that enough legislators might defect from the long-ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO)-led coalition that the opposition could win control of the country by September. If that happened it would give Anwar a shot at the prime minister’s office—and help him chart one of the greatest political comebacks in history.
All seemed to be going according to plan until June 29, when Anwar got a text message from an unknown source informing him that Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a 23-year-old aide, had accused him of sodomy, a crime punishable by 20 years’ imprisonment in Muslim-majority Malaysia. The sense of déjà vu was strong, for UMNO and former prime minister Mahathir Mohammad had used just such a charge to derail Anwar’s political career in 1998, when Anwar started showing uncomfortable signs of independence from his repressive old mentor. Now it seems the ruling party may be up to its old tricks once more.
Anwar has called the latest charge against him a “complete fabrication,” saying it’s an attempt to “undermine the forces of reform and renewal.” Malaysia’s embattled current prime minister, Abdullah Badawi, has denied all claims of a government plot. But voters aren’t buying it: a recent poll by the independent Merdeka Center showed that only 6 percent of respondents believed the allegation against Anwar was true, and 60 percent thought it was politically motivated.
Their skepticism is understandable. The scandal’s timing is certainly suspicious. UMNO has never hesitated in the past to squelch dissent when it has felt threatened, and its 50-year grip on power has never been more tenuous than now. Ever since the election, the prime minister has been under pressure to step down. After the vote, Mahathir said that in a similar situation “the Japanese would have performed hara-kiri.” On June 18, one of UMNO’s coalition partners announced a no-confidence motion against Abdullah (though it never followed through). Then, last week, the prime minister announced plans to step down as head of the party by 2010.
Before the latest allegation was made, Anwar was poised not only to recapture power, but had also threatened to expose the myriad abuses committed during Mahathir’s 22-year rule, which ended in 2003. If proved, such charges might even lead to jail time for the former leader and his cronies.
Various conspiracy theories are now circulating, including one claiming that Anwar planted the sodomy charge himself to garner public sympathy. But the consensus seems to be that the accusation is the work of Abdullah’s deputy and heir, Najib Razak, a bitter rival of Anwar’s. The opposition leader has publicly blamed Najib and his wife, Rosmah, for the affair, which he says is an attempt by them to ruin his chances and distract attention from their own role in a pending murder investigation.
Of course, it’s too soon to say for certain whether Anwar is really being framed and, if he is, who’s doing the framing. But many Malaysians fear that the truth will never come out, since the government, the police and the courts were responsible for convicting Anwar the first time round and so can’t be trusted to run an honest investigation now.
The U.S. government shares that concern. “The main point for us is that the rule of law needs to stand above politics,” said State Department spokesman Tom Casey on June 30, following news of the latest allegation. A decade ago Anwar’s much-publicized trial was deemed a “mockery” of justice by the then U.S. Vice President Al Gore, and many Malaysians have come to agree with his verdict. Thousands have already taken to the streets in Anwar’s defense.
The question now is whether Anwar’s loose coalition of opposition parties can hold together in the face of this onslaught. Since the election, the coalition has struggled to implement its campaign pledges, such as to curb corruption, improve human rights and kickstart Malaysia’s economy, in the states it controls. Now UMNO is showing that it will not go quietly. With Anwar once again becoming the center of a very ugly controversy and the prospect of more unrest looming, he risks losing public support if voters come to associate him with the chaos. To prevent that, Anwar must try to deflect the accusation while focusing his energy on delivering what the opposition’s promised. If he fails, the public could return to UMNO in droves, ending Malaysia’s fledgling experiment in democracy before it ever really got going.
well.. those who r involve in the conspiration are now getting old and near to the grave and some of them had already facing the god. Your body will answer to the god not your mouth.
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Yes, D.S. Anwar Ibrahim is going to bring a new hope and a new beginning for a truly democratic Malaysia. Just like Senator Obama, DSAI can bring a change to Malaysia that breaks down the barrier of race, the ugly divisive tool that has been used successfully by BN for the last 50 years, to the detrimental of a cohesive and progressive Malaysian society. We Malaysians have a dream too that one day every citizen will be equal regardless of our race or religion. That one day we will be judged by our deeds and not our creeds and we can rejoice together as one truly multicultural melting pot of free and just Malaysia. God willing, let no one stop DSAI from achieving such noble, peace loving goal. Freedom and Equality.
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Anwar maybe the best man to bring about changes in Bolehland…never forgetting we also have, a new rising star, our humble and silent achiever, Dato Seri Wan Azizah. I have no problem if Malaysia
have a woman PM. The world has changed, the thinking has changed, like LXP the demised Chinese premier once said, “It does matter whether the cat is white or black as long as it catches rats”
Let us change our mindset and not focus just on a single sex to be PM in Bolehland. I am confident and comfortable if DS Wan came to power, I have no doubt, she will sucessfully clean the shit left over by the corrupted BN.
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Sorry mistyped, it should read, “It does not matter whether the cat is white or black, as long as it catches rats”
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DSAI FOR PM.
KAK WAN FOR PM ALSO CAN.
NO ISSUE HERE FOR THIS HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM.
HIP HIP HOORAY 3X
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I just read that Uthaya’s office has closed. Now the poor man who was also responsible for the political change in the 5 Pakatan Rakyat states is sacrificing like Mr Anwar before him, his personnal interest for the sake of the masses. We must not forget that as more and more people go under this type of treatment under the BN govt rule, this BN govt is creating a stronger tsunami that will ultimately wipe the BN govt out of power. In adversity a greater force builds up that becomes a threat to whosoever happens to be the oppressor. This is the nature and spirit of man when he is threatened as Mr Anwar already knows.
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All great educationists advocate that when human beings are treated fairly and justly without prejudice or favour even the worst in us gets subdued and the better qualities surface. We as social animals must learn to live with one another appreciating our differences in culture, language, tradition, religion and way of life. Our multiethnic, multicultural and multireligious society is an asset to this part of the world and any political ideology should tap this human resource to th fullest for a progressive and colourful nation that can be an example to the world at large. We have yet to attain this status. This country governed by the BN can never ever achieve this because we have nincompoops as administrators in govt today
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IT is the people of Malaysia who will decide who their leaders will be.Try any dirty tactics and they will surely fail.Malaysia is not Zimbabwe,Burma or Sudan.Malaysia is unique with peoples of great understanding and know-hows.It will boomerang to the advantage of the people of Malaysia in the end.
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Will history ever repeat itself
After being kept on the shelf
To be lonely again with oneself
Without ever condemning ownself?
(C) Samuel Goh Kim Eng – 130708
http://MotivationInMotion.blogspot.com
Sun. 13th July 2008.
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DSAI, UMNO-BN will continue to do whatever it takes to harm you so long as you remain a threat to them politically.
It is not a bad idea to:
i) promote Dato’Seri Wan Azizah ( DSWA) to the first Women Prime Minister of Malaysia.
ii) focus your time & energy to continue your crusade in many forthcoming ceramah & help DSWA to become the next PM once Pakatan Rakyat takes over the federal government.
iii) focus your time & energy to fight for the injustices such as the fabrication charges against you, bring down fuel costs, distribute the windfall profits of Petronas to the Rakyat in the form of tax rebates or lower taxes.
The 91.9% incease of Natural Gas prices to the industries who use less than 2 million mmbtu will hurt the nation very badly. The real effect woudl be felt in the 4th quarter.
Please do something very urgently to rescue the country from collapsing economically & restore the confidence of the investment community in BURSA.
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The SH’T keeps oozing out of Malaysia. Mahathir must be accountable for it. Messing with the judiciary he destroyed the balance of justice in malaysia.
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Well, well, well! The climate change has been fast and furious; and whether it augurs well for the people and nation is left to be seen. The wind for change is pretty strong . Will it turn out to be a typhoon or a tornado? or will it be a gentle breeze that soothes the nerves of all Malaysians ?
Malaysians like others want a peaceful nation where all could work, play and enjoy the scenery peacefully. Everybody wants a good life for himself and for his family. Everybody wants equal opportunities to grow and flourish. Everybody wants to lead a happy and meaningful life. If BN could not deliver the goods then let Pakatan Rakyat, the Opposition at Federal level, do it. After all BN has been in power for 50 years. So, it is right and proper to give to somebody else the chance to prove that he could do a better job for the people. If he fails, then the people could change the Government at the next polls in 2013. Is it not fair to give another a chance to show his worth, if any ? There is no necessity to put obstacles on the way. Be a gentleman and play the game according to the rules. All games have rules .
Why create tension and uncertainty for the people and the nation and also for investors ? Investors want a calm, conducive environment to do business. Chaos will not promote confidence. Now the world is running into a recession, what witha price hike in oil! Goods and services are getting more and more expensive; and consumers are suffering; businesses are also suffering. We could without
the extra bad news. The situation is already bad enough .
Hopefully good sense and goodwill will prevail for the sake of the PEOPLE at large. People want peace to run their lives.
S.H. Huang
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Destroy Anwar, and you will destro Pakatan Rakyat. That’s how UMNO sees it. So PR’s component parties – PKR, DAP & PAS – has got to be on their tos and united.
The history of Mahathir’s Malaysia has been replete with UMNO destroying good and capable leaders who challenges himor his perverted philosophy. Witness all his deputy including Tengku Razaleign. As for the Chinese, that racist Mahathir was behind the political demise of Tan Koon Swan, a capable and honest leader.
So, Mr Anwar Ibrahim must be careful but also be resourceful in fighting back. I for one, would like to see him win and come into the chair and change many of UMNO’s policies and practice. I will be hooting for him for sure.
But take care. Take good care of him, all you good people in PKR and PR. Let not PKR be like another second rate MCA headed by second tier leaders like the accidental Ling Leong Sik after its top echelon leaders were surreptiously “destroyed” by that unseen hand behind the whole charade by that “running-dog” Neo Yee Pan (I wonder how much he was paid by M?!).
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So near and yet so far! Saudara Anwar, your dream is my dream – and I have full confidence in your political ability and agility to succeed whee so many have failed. You have gone through the tests and trials that all who would become heroes must endure – and you have passed with flying colors! I hereby declare my total trust that your destiny is inextricably bound with Malaysia’s destiny. Stay calm, clear, and I do hope you will make time to relax and recharge your batteries. Fight on fearlessly as you have done, but please do not burn out!!! At least 80% of the Rakyat is behind you.
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Malaysia….truly Asia!! indeed most people who view that commercial would never imagine the rottenness,pain and the silent-suffering in this country…(for many who are not beneficaries of the ruling class its more of…Malaysia…better Euthenasia!!) Malaysian political scene is a classic example of why a single party should never rule a country for too long…it should be documented in a book and made available for study in the universities. If absolute power corrupts then uninterrupted power corrupts even more!! Only God can save us now.
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There is no harm for Anwar’s wife, Dr Wan to become Prime Minister of Malaysia, She is hardworking, in-corruptible and suffered tremendously when her husband was falsely framed by TDM. The older generation will always be able to recollect when Acquino was murdered by agents of Marcos, his wife became President of the Philipones. We pray to God tjhat he will look after Anwar and his family.
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Dato’Sri, a man of priciple, strong dignity and well composed. There is nothing wrong if Datin Seri Wan Azizah will become the next PM. Let us now potray Datin Seri Wan Azizah as the PM-in-waiting. It has been ten years she has remain confident, collected but bold enough to endure all hardships no matter how hard the situation can be.
There is no reason why DSWA should not take the responsibility. All the best to PR.
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MCA Liow claimed that DSAI is trying to bring hudud law when his sodomy case is being referred to the syariah courts and not the civil courts. I think MCA liow is ignorant of the laws pertaining to muslims in this country. If I am wrong please clarify. I would like to be better informed of execution of laws on muslims and non muslims in this country.
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Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, see you at the top. You are our next Prime Minister. InsyAllah.
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congrats to dato seri dr wan azizah….saya merupakan pengundi di atas pagar selama ini dimana saya menilai pada setiap pilihan raya umum, progress dan pembangunan yang di bawa oleh kerajaan yang memerintah pada tempoh pilihan raya umum yang sebelumnya…dan penilaian saya pastinya berpihak pada pihak kerajaan yang memerintah..
saya tidak menafikan kuasa baru dari parti keadilan rakyat yang kini makin berdiri seiring dengan kerajaan memerintah, namun pada pilihan raya umum baru-baru ini, pilihan saya tetap pada kerajaan memerintah. kerajaan memerintah telah membuktikan kredibilitinya dalam membangunkan negara dan keamanan yang amat menjadi keperluan dalam negara kita, di pihak yang lain pula, saya acapkali melihat parti keadilan rakyat pula sering kali memperlekehkan keamanan yang dijaga selama ini oleh kerajaan memerintah…sering membuat perhimpunan, perarakan, dan perkara yang membawa kepada kekecohan.
pada pandapat saya, pkr haruslah cuba membuat sesuatu prubahan drastik dlm menentukan cara utk mendapatkan perhatian rakyat dan media untuk melontarkan sesuatu isu selain daripada melakukan perarakan, perhimpunan yang sering berakhir dengan kekecohan. saya sebagai pengundi, ingin sangat melihat perubahan dalam negara malaysia ini, namun setakat ini, kerajaan memerintah telah menjalankan kerja dengan bagus sekali. pada pendapat saya, perkara dalaman sesebuah parti itu tidak perlu ditonjolkan sgt kerana hasil kerja yang dihasilkan itu lebih ingin dilihat oleh rakyat. segala masalah dalaman perlu disimpan dan cuba hasilkan kerja yang mengagumkan rakyat malaysia.
tahniah sekali lagi pada dswa…..cubalah dswa membawa perubahan dalam pkr ini moga dapat mendapat undi dari pengundi2 atas pagar seperti saya pada pilihan raya umum akan datang kelak
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yes. it does not mean that anuar has to be the PM. azizah can be the PM. if they want to be hard on anuar, let it be. the truth will prevail. the world is watching. karma works in many ways. the economy is nosediving. the country is littered with so many corrupted people but still holding on to power. those in power have lost power. prosecution and investigation are selective. whistle blowers are hounded and threatened. democracy is now dead. never allow the flag of JUSTICE to fall. people power will prevail. NURUL should immediately step in. NURUL has the charisma and with time she will be the right person to take over. the corrupt should go by any means. th e world media is now talking about NURUL the soon-to-be iron lady of malaysia. she will soon be the thatcher or indira ghandi of malaysia. dear anuar, just be patient.
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Syariah (Hudud & Qisas) law only for muslim people not for non-muslim.
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Thank you Apple for the info. Please enlighten MCA Liow who rattled some unwanted remarks in today’s news about DSAI and Hudud laws to frighten the non muslims
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DSAI is a man of the times. He has learned from his vast experience and knowledge what is best for a multiethic and multireligious society like Malaysia. His supporters are there because they see in him a better leader with a better understanding of today’s mental makeup of the masses. I am sure with his first hand experience on BN policies and ideologies, he is careful not to repeat the mistakes BN has made in the past. The BN component parties are ‘katak dibawah tmpurung,’ or in English ‘frogs under a nutshell.’ Why else do you think they fear to speak up when things are going wrong for the country? MCA, MIC Gerakan and all other parties are the voice of UMNO. I am writing this bravely in DSAI’s Blog without fear or favour. Would any of us Rakyat dare to write or say what is in one’s mind or heart in any BN blogs? DSAI is practising true democracy with the spirit of the common man. He understands how the man on the street feels, reacts and is affected if the country is not governed with the interest of the Rakyat at heart.
I am sure if any of us had undergone what DSAI went through in custody, we would put politics behind us to lead a life with less stress and problems. What if one has to go through all the pain in custody, when one is truly innocent? A coward would definitely call it a day but not DSAI or others like him. DSAI has come out with a force to seek justice for all like him including the country as a whole that has been robbed of her honour and respect especially when she is ruled by coyotes like the BN parties.
The Rakyat should actually support DSAI in is fight for a more democratic approach
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In my blog above the correction should read,’ he has learned from his vast experience and knowledge what is best for a multiethnic and multireligious society like Malaysia’. Sorry for the mistake.
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UMNO/BN tak usah kira siapa je la… mesti bercakap dengan kepala lutut.
Bukan dia tak tau mahkamah syariah untuk orang Islam, tapi dia nak tunjuk angkuh @ bodohnya di mata rakyat.
Cuma malangnya, rakyat ramai masih berperangai macam ayam daging. Kenapa?
UMNO/BN dah berjaya bentuk masyarakat manja dan tiada jati diri.
Apa yang penting kebendaan dan menindas orang. Ada peluang makan sorang.
Contohnya, macam mana dia orang buat dajai kat Anwar!
Mereka tidak berpolitik secara gentlemen sebab sejarah awalnya, kemerdekaan negara pun diperoleh dengan merampas hak pejuang sebenar. UMNO/Perikatan hanya pergi merundingkan saja tarikhnya.
Nota: Jika tidak kenapa Lord Reid yang buat perlembagaan? Sepatutnya mesti ada jawatankuasa yang terdiri daripada UMNO (paling tidak pun). Semua bahagian masyarakat ambil bahagian.
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Nak tutup mulut orang, adakan Undang-undang Darurat, 1948. Semua pejuang sebenar ditangkap dan dipenjarakan (7 tahun). Mana yang tak mau ditangkap lari ke hutan lalu dituduh pengganas (komunis) dan diperangi dan diburu.
Inggeris dan UMNO gunakan anak-anak muda Melayu yang kemudiannya berbangga jadi wira kerana menentang dan membunuh ‘pengganas’ (sedangkan mereka yang dibunuh itu adalah pejuang kemerdekaan).
Siapa kata Rashid Maidin, Che Dat atau Abdullah CD pengganas?
Demikian UMNO berjaya mencipta dogma dengan membohongi sejarah/pemikiran secara terang-terangan.
Sekarang mereka ada ISA untuk menututp mulut rakyat yang kritis.
Dan harus diingat, polis yang ada merupakan alat/jentera BN untuk kekalkan kuasa. Polis TIDAK akan bertindak untuk kepentingan rakyat.
Itu sebab mereka tu sanggup jadi anji*g.
(Nota: Jika tidak masakan mereka sanggup susahkan rakyat dengan sekatan jalan di merata-rata, sedangkan negara dalam keadaan aman dan harmoni. Malah kerajaan sendiri yang cuba mencipta satu keadaan biar rakyat cemas).
Sama la dengan perangai Robert Mugabe tu. Sama juga dengan junta tentera Myanmar.
Cuma kita perlukan 10 pemuda waja untuk menimba Selat Melaka. Mana dia?
p/s Yang ramai ketagih dadah dan terlantar di pusat serenti. Alahai Melayu!
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MCA Liow is like the rest of them: using the wrong end of the stick to come up with the most ludicrous assertions. If the rest of the world used the same kind of peversed logic, we would be a first world country by now. How on earth can you link introducing hudud laws with a muslim seeking redress in a Syriah court? It’s people like him who make other Chinese like me look like idiots. No wonder the MCA is losing the support of the very people they are supposed to represent.
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wahai din kl,
saya juga cintakan keamanan dan kesejahteraan umum. disamping itu saya dan rata-rata rakyat malaysia pasti mahukan keadilan dan kesamaraatan harta negara. jikalau PKR atau mana-mana pihak pembangkang diberikan yang peluang sama rata di media massa sudah tentu tidak perlu adanya ‘perhimpunan haram’. demokrasi bukan hanya pada kertas undi….
p/s: aku tak maafkan kau sebabkan harga minyak naik dgn undi BN!
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What are the police doing with regards to civilian cases like the rape and torture of innocent Nurin, the disappearance of Sharlinee and countless cases of rape and murder in our country today? Are the police paid to just mann roadblocks just because of rumours of a gathering at parliament house? Has Malaysia declared any form of rioting by the public with loss of lives for such statements like ‘to ensure public order and safety,’ that the police were deployed near parliament house?
The police are paid from public funds to ensure roads are safe for the public and that crime rate like robbery, snatch theft, kidnapping, cheating, vandalism, murder etc.. are reduced and checked. Our police are doing everything else but reduce and check crime rate within the society.
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More and more rakyat are becoming aware of the current political situation in Malaysia. This country has been practising biased politics at all levels of society, from law, educational opportunities, job opportunities, scholarships, business opportunities etc….so much so the politicians and administrators in govt. feel it is an accepted way of life. These forms of injustices have threatened the very fabric of the social structure as the whole social order of the day is corrupted, unfair, biased and unbalanced. This is the way BN with its UMNO bosses see and administer the land and whosoever tries to upset this order is a threat to be disposed in whichever way the BN/UMNO bosses feel fit. Now, we the Rakyat are well aware of the plot and we are sure that it will be a fight to the last. We, the Rakyat are at the losing end if we allow this BN/UMNO bosses stiil hold the reins after 51 years of merdeka
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DSAI don’t give up
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salam,
perjuangkanlah suara rakyat dan jangan give-up. Kami rakyat dari kaum Melayu, Cina dan India telah faham halatuju sebenarnya yang kami mahu terhadap masa depan negara ini.
hentikanlah kemungkaran oleh gomen BN ini, kami akan menyokong DSAI. InsyaAllah kemenangan akan berpihak kepada rakyat. Mari kawan-kawan Melayu, Cina dan India. Marilah kita berganding bahu berjuang bagi masa depan Negara Malaysia yang lebih baik dari segala bentuk pembohongan oleh gomen BN.
InsyaAllah…. Rakyat akan bangkit bersama-sama Barisan Rakyat. InsyaAllah.
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Let’s endorse this open letter: http://www.islamicamagazine.com/general/Open-Letter-Concerning-Anwar-Ibrahim.html
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penyangak2 BARISAN NASIONAL dah hilang akal!!!
ORANG SABAHAN DAH BOSAN DENGAN PROPAGANDA BARISAN PENGHANCUR NEGARA…
KEMANA PERGINYA NEGARA DEMOKRASI?????
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anwar ibrahim was chosen and hand pick by the ex PM tun mahatir.he was trained by tun mahatir to be a leader. anwar himself was a real smooth talker. thats about all he is and will always stay that way because he is full of talks only.he will sell his on kind to fulfil his own dreams. no doubt umno leaders are arrogant and so is anwar and his adil group and dap leaders.so what is all the fuzz about.Anwar was from the barisan leader and during his tenure of deputy pm what has he done for the country and the people..NOTHING except for himself and his cronies. so give it a rest and move forward and live with what ther is today
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