From Reuters
By Razak Ahmad – Analysis

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim heads for trial on Tuesday on a charge of sodomy, placing the country’s courts under scrutiny again after his doubtful conviction for the same offence almost a decade ago.

Anwar was tried first on corruption charges and then for sodomy after his sacking as Deputy Prime Minister in 1998 amid a political feud with then premier Mahathir Mohamad.

His case drew a chorus of international criticism with then-U.S. Vice President Al Gore saying at the time that the trial “mocked international standards of justice.”

Although Malaysia’s top court ultimately overturned the conviction, doubts remain as to whether the 62-year-old Anwar, who represents the biggest political threat to the government that has run Malaysia for 52 years, will get a fair trial.

This time, he is charged with sodomising a male aide in a trial that has been dubbed “Sodomy 2″ by the Malaysian media.

“For political cases, the public has grave concerns about the independence of the judiciary,” said Lim Chee Wee, vice president of the Bar Council of Malaysia. “There is also the upcoming Anwar ‘Sodomy 2′ trial where the presently available evidence suggests selective prosecution.”

(more…)

From Reuters
By David Chance

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will go on trial on Tuesday on charges of sodomy, the second time he has faced what he says are political allegations aimed at ending his challenge to the government.

Anwar, 62, was convicted of sodomy in August 2000 and sentenced to jail in a trial whose conduct was condemned internationally. The conviction came on top of a six-year sentence for corruption.

Critics say both convictions were aimed at destroying the heir apparent to then-premier Mahathir Mohamad, for opposing Mahathir’s management of the 1998 Asian financial crisis.

(more…)

From New York Times
By THOMAS FULLER

BANGKOK — During more than three decades in politics, Anwar Ibrahim has spent a good share of his time behind bars — from his detention during his days as a rabble-rousing student leader in the 1970s to his imprisonment a decade ago on charges of abuse of power and sodomy.

On Tuesday, a new trial begins for Mr. Anwar, 62, the charismatic but polarizing politician who leads the country’s resurgent opposition.

The accuser is new, but the charge is again sodomy. A conviction this time could end the career of Mr. Anwar and reshape Malaysian politics.

For Malaysia’s 26 million people, the trial is the latest chapter in the bitter struggle for power between the governing coalition, which has ruled since independence from Britain more than five decades ago, and the diverse but ascendant opposition parties.

(more…)

Anwar And Najib – Up Close and Very Revealing

From Bakrimusa.com
By Bakri Musa

The side-by-side commentaries by Anwar Ibrahim and Najib Razak in the recent Asian edition of the Wall Street Journal illuminated a couple of salient points, in particular, the state of Malaysian journalism and the quality of our leadership.

Consider first Malaysian editors, specifically of the mainstream media. They missed the essential point that the best way to intelligently inform their readers is to present them with contrasting and opposing viewpoints, as illustrated by what The Journal did. Respect your readers’ intelligence and treat them like adults.

Bernama mentioned the Journal’s articles as a news item but referred only to Najib’s piece. Obviously the Bernama editors’ instinct was to please Najib and protect his image. They see themselves less as professional journalists and more as propagandists for the state. Their reaction was predictable.

(more…)