From Asia Times Online
By Anil Netto
PENANG – The more things change, the more they remain the same in Malaysian politics. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has failed to get a court to strike out a sodomy charge against him, which means the controversial trial that threatens to bump him from politics and land him in prison is set to begin on January 25.
It will represent the second time Anwar faces charges of sodomy, which is considered a criminal act in Malaysia’s Muslim majority society. This time, he faces charges of sodomizing his 24-year-old former personal aide at a condominium in Kuala Lumpur in mid-2008.
For many Malaysians, there is a sense of deja vu with the 1999 trial that involved his wife’s chauffeur. But the Malaysian political landscape has evolved considerably over the “reformasi” years that followed Anwar’s ouster as finance minister from formerpremier Mahathir Mohamad’s government in September 1998, coinciding with the height of the Asian financial crisis.
For starters, Anwar’s mentor-turned-nemesis, who ruled the country from 1981 to 2003, is no longer in power. He has since emerged as a vocal critic of his self-appointed and later elected successor, Abdullah Badawi, as well as newly appointed Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Since Anwar’s release from prison in 2004, six years after his ouster from government, Anwar has played an instrumental role in bringing together the opposition parties. His efforts helped produce a shock result in last year’s general election: the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition lost its coveted two-thirds parliamentary majority in parliament and five out of 13 states in the federation fell to opposition party rule.
Opposition parties now control only four state governments after the BN wrested back Perak state earlier this year under controversial legal circumstances. But despite such strong-arm tactics, Malaysian politics have become more fluid, with issues of race, religion and corruption intensely debated online and in political talks. No longer is the BN the overwhelming political force it was previously, though it still controls the main levers of administrative power.
The BN parties representing ethnic minorities, such as the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), still reeling after the electoral drubbing they suffered last year, have proven unable to reform or renew themselves. Instead, the MCA is deeply divided by factionalism while the MIC is staring at irrelevance.
Anwar, who re-entered parliament after winning a by-election last August, was instrumental in stabilizing and bringing under one umbrella the opposition parties after their unexpected gains in the 2008 general election. He helped establish a leadership council among the three main parties – his People’s Justice Party, the Islamic Party and the Democratic Action Party – under the banner of the Pakatan Rakyat (People’s Alliance).
Meanwhile, Anwar’s unrelenting push for more democracy has captured international attention. An e-mail flier released this week by his office announced that the US-based Foreign Policy magazine listed Anwar among the world’s top 100 global thinkers due to “his persistent challenge to the Muslim world to embrace democracy”. The flier also noted that this year the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center in Jordan listed him among the world’s 500 most influential Muslims for “dramatically changing the political landscape of Malaysia”.
Those political breakthroughs have paved the way for a two-coalition system that has provided an unprecedented political check and balance on the BN. Zaid Ibrahim, a cabinet minister who quit last year in protest at the government’s arbitrary use of the feared Internal Security Act to silence dissent, is now leading the process of formalizing the People’s Alliance into an electoral entity, similar to the ruling BN coalition.
But the similarities between the two coalitions end there: The BN and the Pakatan have sharply contrasting political approaches. Whereas UMNO is the dominant force in the BN (although decision-making is said to be by consensus), the Pakatan offers a collective approach to policy-making.
Even though repressive federal laws are still in place, there has been a democratic opening, felt especially in the four Pakatan-led state governments. Government-owned buildings are now available for use by non-BN political parties and critical civil society groups, which had previously found it difficult to secure such venues for their events. Rarely do riot police mobilize, as they did before, each time Pakatan politicians hold political talks or rallies.
Diminished fear factor
That growing democratic space has reduced the public fear factor, where previously many found it more prudent to keep their political opinions to themselves. For instance, tens of thousands marched calling for an abolition of the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) in the streets of Kuala Lumpur in August – prompting the government to announce in its aftermath that it would review and amend the law. Pakatan-led state governments also joined in calling for the ISA’s repeal.
Constrained by a squeeze on federal funding, Pakatan-led state governments have claimed to plug leakages on state and local council expenditure, reduce corruption and implement an open tender system for government contracts, winning plaudits from a public weary of years of BN-led graft and abuse. Pakatan politicians are already looking ahead to build on their gains in the next general election, which some analysts believe could be held as early as 2011.
The BN-led federal government has also lost its long-time monopoly on news and information flows. Increased Internet penetration means that Malaysians are much more aware of issues involving alleged corruption, wastage of state funds and official abuse of power. Some analysts now believe that the “alternative” Internet-based news media, which have sidestepped government controls on the print and electronic media, could now be considered the “mainstream” media based on their large readerships.
The government-owned or controlled media, once regarded as the “mainstream”, continue to hemorrhage readers, especially among the younger, tech-savvy generation. News portals such as the well-established Malaysiakini.com, Malaysia Today and Malaysian Insider, and new entrants such as the Malaysian Mirror and Free Malaysia Today, are filling the news gap left by government influenced newspapers.
Having lost its monopoly over the print media (television and radio are still tightly state controlled and have extensive reach), the BN government must for the first time compete in the marketplace of ideas and competing arguments, a role that does not come naturally to its traditional patronage politicians.
Many BN federal ministers and elected representatives, including Najib, now make use of blogs to communicate with their constituents. Najib also turned last month to social networking site Facebook and is now a regular on Twitter. His latest tweet: “Now back in Malaysia after overseas visits to US and CHOGM [Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting], Trinidad and Tobago. Much work to do!”
It will thus be difficult for the BN to put the genie of democracy back in the bottle. Unlike Anwar’s first trial, it is not only the judges, prosecutors and lawyers who will be scrutinizing the evidence in the new sodomy charge brought against him. Rather it will come under intense and unprecedented public scrutiny through new media outlets.
Much has changed in terms of democracy and accountability between Anwar’s sodomy trial I and sodomy trial II, and the public uproar in reaction to any perceived injustice in the proceedings could make the previous reformasi protest movement Anwar sparked over a decade ago look tame in comparison.
Umno buat kerja bodoh. Dia ingat dia berkuasa boleh semborono buat apa dia suka untuk kekalkan kuasa. Dia lupa bahawa semua rakyat yang waras tidak suka cara umno memputarbelitkan keadaan terutamanya kes DSAI ini. Rakyat umum, amnya yang islam benci dengan fitnah ini tidak akan membiarkan kebejatan umno ini. Kami sentiasa mendoakan dan bersolat hajat untuk kemenangan dan keselamatan DSAI dan memusnahkan umno. Umno dah mula gentar dengan doa TGNA supaya Allah menurunkan bala pada umno dan pemimpinnya. Rakyat yang jiwa dan imannya Islam tetap benci dengan kebejatan umno ini dan tidak akan lupa turut bersama berdoa agar Allah selamatkan DSAI dan ditimpakan bala kepada Umno dan dan pemimpinnya terutamanya Najib yang menjadi ketua umno sekarang dan mereka yang bersekongkol dengannya. Kami tiada berdaya untuk melawan penipuan kecuali berdoa sahaja. Islam mengajar kita ‘doa adalah senjata bagi orang mukmin’. Kalau tak percaya teruskanlah niat jahat kamu tu. Umno dah mula gelabah sekarang akibat doa kami yang teranyaia. Bertaubatlah masa maseh ada nyawa, ilmu Allah tidak terhitung oleh makhlok walaupun tumbuhan didunia dijadikan pena dan air lautan dijadikan tinta dan tambah dan diulang lagi nescaya tidak tertulis oleh makhlok akan ilmu Nya. Dakwah ini disampaikan agar tidak menjadikan alasan bila berbicara di makamah Allah di yaumilmahshyar nanti.
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these idoits will never learn from passed experiences.they still believe malaysian are still stupid and never care of um-no/b-end wrongdoings.let see what will happen this time around…..
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What good fortune for governments that the people do not think.The leader of genius must have the ability to make different opponents appear as if they belonged to one category.Makkal Shakti
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UMNO/BN ni memang kuno sangatlah dan suka supaya rakyat Malaysia terus tertutup minda supaya senang dibeli dengan sekupang dua.Ini zaman 2ribu bukan 60puluhan lagilah.Dasar-dasar dan amalan kamu telah jadi usang dan lapok.Keris warisan(yang dulunya dua bilah,tapi kini tinggal satu saja) tu dah amat berkarat dan sekarang mencari-cari untuk menikam tuannya sepeti Rais Yatim yang barua.
Wahai kawan-kawanku rakyat Sabah dan Sarawak,buat apalah kamu orang sokong mereka?Sebelum terlambat,kamu orang tinggalkanlah sahaja mereka tu.Lagikan Mahathir, yang dulunya hebat, dah tak percaya lagi dengan UMNO.Siapalah kamu?
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muhammad al-fatih (borneo) Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
bukan kami tak pangkah PAKATAN wak kato, cuma kekuatan BeeEnd disini adalah GULA-GULA BN. kami yang tak termakan GULA-GULA ni berapa kerat je..yang lain boleh dikatakan lebih dari separuh.tambahan pula, jarang sekali nampak wakil-wakil PAKATAN turun padang ke tempat-tempat kami
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Ismawi Ishak Reply:
December 6th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Wak kanto, Saya tidak tahu anda berasal dari mana ? Jika anda bukan dari berasal dari Sabah dan Sarawak wajar jika anda tidak memahami politik Sabah dan Sarawak. Jangan sembarangan wahai Wak Kanto kerana kesemberononya Wak Kanto akan menjadikan politik bertambah haru biru, Kami di Sarawak pandai berpolitik, Baca sejarah dan telitilah….Wak Kanto uruslah UMNO di Semenanjung tolong Tuan Guru Nik Aziz waima sebaris doa. medang juang kita tidak sama.
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Semoga pemimpin yang menzalimi dan mengkhianati rakyat akan dilaknati Allah dan umat manusia serta seluruh makhluk di atas muka bumi ini. Amiiiiiinnn……
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Subhanallah..!! Dah habih pikiaq dah ke…?? Wahai yg bersekongkol dgn agenda busuk lagi membusukkan ini..,bahawa kiamatmu dah menjelang tiba..!!
Na’auzubillah!!
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Salam untuk semua,
Mari kita doakan supaya Allah SWT menurunkan bencana kepada pemimpin2 UMNO-BN kerana menzalimi rakyat Malaysia keseluruhannya. Doa berikut boleh kita lakukan setiap lepas solat.
Ya Allah Ya Rahman Ya Rahim,
Ampunkanlah dosa Kami Ya Allah
Jika tindakan kami ini mengundang kemurkaanMu
Namun Ya Allah,
Kezaliman yang dilakukan oleh pemimpin2 UMNO-BN telah melampaui batas kemanusiaan
Sehingga menyebabkan hak-hak kemanusiaan kami dinafikan oleh mereka, Ya Rabbul Jalil.
Ya Rahman Ya Rahim Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin
Tunjukkanlah kekuasaan Mu Ya Allah kepada pemimpin2 zalim ini
Semoga timbul kegerunan di dalam hati-hati mereka
Agar mereka kembali menyerah diri kepada Mu
Dan menginsafi perbuatan mereka serta bertaubat kepada Mu, Ya Malikul Khuddus.
Ya Allah, Ya Rahman, Ya Malikul Khuddus
Jika mereka masih dalam kesesatan, Ya Rabbal Alamin,
Kau turunkanlah bencana kepada pemimpin2 UMNO-BN ini
Dan kau kucar-kacirkanlah perkumpulan jemaah mereka
Serta hancurkanlah perkumpulan mereka agar kezaliman mereka dapat dihentikan
Semoga kehancuran jemaah UMNO-BN ini memberi sinar kesejahteraan hidup seluruh rakyat Malaysia
Ya Allah, Ya Malikul Khuddus, Ya Rabbal Alamin,
Selamatkanlah pemimpin2 Pakatan Rakyat dari kekejaman pemimpin2 UMNO-BN
Lindungilah mereka dari fitnah jahat pemimpin2 UMNO-BN
Dan kembalikanlah fitnah jahat ini kepada pemula fitnah
Semoga pemimpin2 UMNO-BN ini kembali sedar kepada kekuasaan Mu, Ya Allah.
Ya Allah, Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim,
Jadikanlah negara Malaysia sebuah negara yang Kau Redhai
Dan kurniakanlah rezeki yang melimpah-ruah kepada rakyatnya
Dan hapuskanlah pemimpin2 yang zalim ini dari bumi Malaysia.
Hanya kepada Mu, Ya Allah kami panjatkan doa kami ini
Mohon makbulkan doa kami ini, Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim, Ya Zal Jalali Wal Ikram.
Amin Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
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noh Reply:
December 6th, 2009 at 11:02 am
A M I N … YA RABBAL ‘ALAMIN.
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SEMOGA DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM TERUS TABAH DALAM MENEMPUH DUGAAN YANG CUBA DAN TERUS DICETUSKAN OLEH ANASIR-ANASIR BN YANG MEMANG TIDAK AKAN SENANG DENGAN KEKUATAN DATO’ DAN PAKATAN RAKYAT.
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maka terserlah perbuatan mereka CUMNO-BN)nie….kerana mengikut bisikan2 iblis dan syaitan yg ingin menarik manusia2 nie ke neraka….ingatlah ketika syaitan dan iblis memohon perkenan Allah utk menyesatkan anak2 adam…maka Allah perkenankan permintaan syaitan dan iblis itu sambil berfirman bahawasenye…mereka boleh menyesatkan manusia2 kecuali mereka yg hatinye dekat dengan ku (Allah)…..(yg meminta pertolongan dari ku…..yg bertasbih memujiku…..yg beribadat ikhlas kerna ku)……oleh itu marilah kita minta pertolongan dgn Allah dari kezaliman sekutu2 syaitan dan iblis yg bertopengkan manusia ini …kerna mereka(UMNO-BN) juga lupa bhw doa bagi org yg dizalimi tiada hijab dgn Allah…..dan sesungguhnye doa itu adalah senjata kaum muslimin……..insyallah semuga Allah memakbulkan doa kita……Ummmmph Nooooo Be eNd (hancur dan terkubur)
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Salam Perjuangan.
Dengan pengiktirafan DSAI sebagai di antara 100 orang Ahli Fikir Dunia oleh FP, dan juga kedudukan beliau serta TGNA sebagai di antara 500 pemimpin Islam yang berpengaruh di dunia yang diiktirafkan oleh The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre di Jordan, di manakah kedudukan Najib, Muhyiddin dan Hishamuddin (3 ABDUL Malaysia)di mata dunia dan juga di dalam Dunia Islam? Tolong … sesiapa di sana yang boleh memberikan penjelasan mengenai perkara ini? Tahniah kepada TGNA kerana menduduki tempat ke 42 di antara 500 orang pemimpin Islam yang berpengaruh di dinia ini dan tidak lupa juga kepada DSAI – kedus-dua insan ini telah menyemarakkan nama Malaysia di persada antarabangsa! Apa hal dengan 3 Abdul – Lanun Malaysia ini pula?
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Entah apa apalah penulis artikel ini melalut, macamlah Barisan Nasional itu teruk sangat, penulis artikel ini En. Anil Netto ini pun macam pelik satu nama Asia (India) satu lagi nama Eropah (Eropah Latin). Lagi pun penulis artikel berkenaan entah orang Malaysia atau orang yang mana-mana entah asalnya, tiba-tiba pula bersemangat beliau mengecam kerajaan Malaysia. Kalau dia ini warganegara India lihat dahulu situasi di negara beliau yang kurang maju dan ramai orang susah itu, bantu negara beliau dulu, ini tidak pandai-pandai masuk campur urusan negara orang yang dia sendiri pun tak tahu hujung pangkalnya, hanya berdasarkan cakap dengar sahaja, terus serkap jarang. Orang asing memang suka mengambil kesempatan ke atas kemelut negara orang lain, contohnya di Iraq, kononnya untuk membebaskan rakyat Iraq dari kezaliman Presiden Saddam kononnyalah, tapi lihat apa yang berlaku kini? Masa Presiden Saddam memerintah dahulu walaupun dikatakan kejam oleh orang yang dengki dengan Iraq, Iraq boleh dikatakan antara negara termaju di dunia Arab, meskipun dikenakan sekatan ekonomi, rakyat Iraq yang setia tabah mempertahankan presiden mereka. Presiden Saddam juga banyak memberi bantuan kepada pihak yang memerlukannya seperti perubatan dan makanan kepada orang-orang susah, zalim sangatkah begitu? Kini apa yang rakyat Iraq dapat dari kemurahan hati Amerika dan kuncu-kuncu jahatnya? Amerika dan kuncu-kuncu jahatnya hanya bermurah hati melemparkan peluru dan bom untuk membunuh rakyat Iraq, sediktator Presiden Saddam pun masih ada hati perut bagi makanan dan ubatan, tapi apa Amerika dan kuncu-kuncunya buat, bukan takat mengembom rumah dan masjid, merogol gadis-gadis Arab dan membunuh seluruh keluarga gadis malang itu berserta gadis-gadis itu sekali. Kepada peminat-peminat setia Pakatan Rakyat sekalian, jangan senang terpengaruh dengan janji manis pihak luar yang entah ikhlas atau tidak menyokong kita, jangan sampai sokongan itu membawa rebah kepada agama, bangsa dan negara kita seperti yang dialami oleh penduduk Iraq, ia perlu dijadikan teladan bagi kita. Sekian, terima kasih.
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For Mr. Anil Netto, Barisan Nasional (National Front) is not cruel as you think, if you compare our country and our neighbor contry, Malaysia is among the fastest develop in economy, education, culture, science and technology and many other fields. In Malaysia, most of foriegners come to earn job, some of them come by properly, but some of them come improperly. But Malaysia government not cruelly beating and torturing these people who come illegal to Malaysia, they have sent to their origin coutry by a proper manner. You should look to all angle before you make a decision or statement, have some thing is suitable in certain place or time, but it’s not suitable in certain others place or time. Don’t be too idealist people, idealist is good if it paralelly with realistic, but if only a thoery on atmostphere and can’t be implemented in real life, it’s a garbage will give us a trouble only. Please Mr. Anil, think rationally, dont to be rough, it not good, the best solution is established when we think rationally and look each angle of the thing, but if we think roughly, without discretion for trouble in the future, we will bear stupid disaster created by our fool decision. Be rational, thank you.
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For Mr. Anil Netto, you should write article about wrong dan bad doing had done by Israeli Goverment on Palestinian People. Illegal Israeli Governmen was established on Palestinian land. You should bring up this metter into the international, to help Palestinian people. Malaysia is different with Israel, we not grab other land to establish Malaysia, Malaysia is establish on Malay Land and Native in Sabah and Sarawak Land, Malaysia is our herigate from our anchestor thousands or may be million years ago, not like Israel who grab Palestinian Land in 1948. Before World War One, Uthmaniyyah Goverment give protection to jewish people from discrimination by western people, Palestinian people accept jewish people to live in Palestine as a neighbour, but jewish people not appreciate discretion of Palestinian people who is the native in Cana’an Land who give the protection.
I hope you to bring up this matter into international level if you a really fighter for right. Thank you.
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