From Manila Buletin
By Chito A. Chavez

Malaysian opposition leader and former deputy minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed belief Friday that a “vibrant democracy needs a vibrant opposition’’, and cited Filipino national hero Jose Rizal’s struggle against colonial rulers.

Addressing hundreds of participants in his Asian Renaissance grand lecture at the Malcolm Hall of the University of the Philippines, Ibrahim mentioned Rizal as one of the founding fathers of Asian Renaissance, noting the Filipino hero’s fight against abuses of Spanish leaders during his time.

To gain the freedom of righteous democracy, Ibrahim said present-day leaders, including the youth and students, in the Asian region should emulate Rizal to reap the fruits of what he started.

He said corruption, which is evident not only in the Philippines but also in other Asian countries, is not endemic to Asian culture. He expressed optimism that it can be stopped.

Ibrahim said that in the 1960s, Hong Kong has one of the most corrupt police forces in Asia but after 10 years, its law enforcement force became the most efficient in the region. (more…)

Dari TV Selangor

Alasan yang diberikan oleh Mahkamah Persekutuan hari ini dalam menolak permohonan mantan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim bagi mendapatkan bahan bukti akan melewatkan kes-kes jenayah umumnya dan bukan sahaja perbicaraan Anwar, kata peguam Karpal Singh.

Tiga hakim mahkamah tertinggi negara menolak permohonan Anwar itu kerana ia dibuat sebelum perbicaraan bermula, kata Karpal. Perbicaraan atas tuduhan fitnah liwat Anwar dijadualkan bermula Selasa depan.

“Keputusan Mahkamah Persekutuan hari ini akan menimbulkan banyak masalah kepada orang. Ia akan membawa kepada kelewatan perbicaraan dalam kes-kes jenayah,” kata Karpal. (more…)

Dari TV Selangor

Sebagaimana yang dijangka, Mahkamah Persekutuan hari ini menolak permohonan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim bagi mendapatkan dokumen dan bukti relevan bagi membolehkan peguam beliau menyediakan pembelaan tuntas untuk perbicaraan mantan Timbalan Perdana Menteri itu pada Selasa depan.

Anwar telah meminta salinan kenyataan penuduh Saiful Bukhari Azlan, laporan perubatan yang relevan dan salinan rakaman video di pintu masuk kondominium Jalan Setia kasih, Bukit Damansara di mana Saiful mendakwa tuduhan fitnah liwat itu berlaku pada Jun tahun 2008 . (more…)

From Wall Street Journal
By James Hookway

The trial of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on sodomy charges is scheduled to begin next week, and observers say the outcome could determine if Malaysia succeeds in ending its corrosive, race-based politics.

The trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on sodomy charges—the second he has faced in little more than a decade—is scheduled to begin next week, and observers say the outcome could determine if Malaysia succeeds in ending its corrosive, race-based politics.

The unlawful-sex trial features many of the main players in a position to decide whether Malaysia, one of the Muslim’s world’s most important countries, should open up its economic and political systems or shift toward an increasingly strident form of Islam.

Mr. Anwar is the charismatic leader of a multiracial opposition alliance that is trying to dislodge Malaysia’s government after 57 years in power. Prosecutors accuse him of sodomizing a young male aide in 2008—an illegal act in Malaysia—and a crime that Mr. Anwar, 62 years old, says was fabricated to destroy his reputation. Mr. Anwar was jailed on similar charges from 1998 to 2004 before his conviction was overturned on appeal. (more…)

From eureka street
By Peter Kirkwood

This interview with controversial Malaysian Opposition Leader, Anwar Ibrahim, continues the series recorded for Eureka Street at the Parliament of the World’s Religions held in Melbourne at the beginning of December 2009.
He speaks about the urgency of interreligious dialogue, how to deal with religious and cultural pluralism, the need for frank discussion and debate amongst Muslims, and the true meaning of sharia, of Islamic law.

The recent spate of fire-bombings of Christian churches in Malaysia highlights the need to promote dialogue and understanding between religious groups. In a recent press statement, Anwar denounced the actions of militant Muslims, saying he was ‘outraged by the tragic attacks on our Christian brothers and sisters’. (more…)