From Reuters
By David Chance; Editing by Bill Tarrant
Malaysian media photos showing “in camera” proceedings in the sodomy trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim prompted complaints of bias in the politically charged trial on Friday.
The graphic picture in Friday’s edition of government-controlled Malay language Utusan Malaysia showed a 24-year-old man, who says Anwar had sex with him, gesturing toward a bed.
The same paper on Thursday used language that was struck out of court proceedings after objections by Anwar’s lawyers in a headline that read “Not willing to be sodomised again,” implying that Anwar had sex with the man more than once.
The judge said Utusan had not broken reporting restrictions on a Thursday visit closed to the public and media to the condominium where Anwar’s accuser said he was sodomised in 2008, in a ruling that stunned Anwar and his supporters.
“We can’t even get a decent judgment over a basic issue like that,” Anwar told reporters after the trial adjourned. Anwar has consistently denied the charge, saying it is part of a political conspiracy against him.
All homosexual acts are illegal in mainly Muslim Malaysia and Anwar was convicted of sodomy and sentenced to nine years in jail in 2000 in a trial that drew widespread condemnation, although the conviction was overturned four years later.
Malaysian papers have lapped up lurid details from the current trial which on Friday saw Saiful’s underwear paraded through the court along with intimate swabs from his body, a pair of trousers and a tube of lubricant used in anal sex.
“Yes, my Lord, that is my Levi’s underwear,” Saiful told the judge. “That is the underwear I wore on the day of the incident.”
COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION
The sensational media coverage means the trial is also being held in the court of public opinion.
“Those in the rural areas who are influenced by the mainstream media will believe in the charge against Anwar,” said Anwar supporter Kashfullah Amaluddin, 37, who was at court on Friday and who said he had also been at the first trial.
“But for the middle class Malays and those who are exposed to more sources of information, they find it impossible to believe.”
Since his acquittal on the earlier sodomy charge and triumphant return to parliament, Anwar has harried the government into dismissing its prime minister, who led the National Front coalition to its worst ever showing in national and state elections in 2008.
The opposition has won seven of nine by-elections since then.
Malaysia’s main newspapers are owned by the government or political parties in the ruling coalition and they have had a field day with the graphic details of homosexual sex — just as they did during his earlier trial.
Online websites, bloggers, and the use of Twitter by Anwar from the court and from other opposition politicians, has provided some balance this time. But the detailed coverage spread over pages dominates the newsstands.
Absent so far has been the mass support that accompanied Anwar’s earlier trials, when tens of thousands of Malaysians left their workplaces to protest. Predictions that they simply do not care this time around may be wide of the mark, said independent political analyst Ong Kian Ming.
“Make no mistake, the public is very interested in reading and keeping track of the details of this trial, especially given the sordid details that have been and will continue to come out.
“My sense is that an explicit showing of public support for Anwar will occur only if and when he is convicted,” Ong said.
MALAY PRIVILEGES
Key to whether the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak or the opposition prevails in a political battle that will culminate in elections that must be held by 2013 is the majority Malay vote.
Malaysia’s substantial ethnic Chinese and Indian voters have largely deserted the multi-ethnic governing coalition, leaving it locked in a battle with an Islamic party for the 55 percent of the population that is Malay and Muslim.
Najib’s efforts to win back minorities were dealt a severe blow by a series of firebomb attacks on churches after a court ruling allowed a Catholic newspaper to use the word “Allah” for god, triggering anger among some Malays.
Anwar has challenged Malaysia to abandon its embedded system of racial preferences for Malays, an attempt at positive discrimination that has been in place for 30 years but which critics say has engendered corruption and cronyism.
Najib has taken some cautious steps in that direction in an effort to woo back foreign investment for Malaysia, which saw the third-biggest outflow of portfolio investment of any emerging market in 2009.
At the same time, the government, led by Najib’s United Malays National Organization, has tried to portray Anwar as a “traitor” to his race.
“Politically, Malay support for him (Anwar) may be split because they don’t fully understand his ideas and some feel insecure at the prospect of minorities having more say at the expense of Malays, a view that is actively promoted by UMNO,” said Ibrahim Suffian of independent pollster, the Merdeka Center.
Pemberitaan adalah satu keperluan. Tapi, kepalsuan adalah bencana kepada masyarakat. Maka, di sinilah peranan penting bagi setiap penulis berita. Jika matang diri seseorang, berkata benar adalah satu rahmat bagi diri serta seluruh rakyat. Sebaliknya, kepalsuan yang diberitakan menjadi pemangkin kepada perpecahan.
Jika berlaku perpecahan disebabkan oleh berita yang palsu, maka pemberita wajib bertanggung jawab di atas setiap berita palsunya. Apakah itu yang diharapkan oleh setiap pemberita KHUSUSNYA PEMBERITA DAN EDITOR UTUSAN.
Kamu boleh bersembunyi disebalik ‘Topeng Umno’ tetapi tidak mungkin dapat menyembunyikan niat jahat kamu daripada pengetahuan ALLAH. Dan jangan kamu bermegah diri bahawa kamu dapat melepaskan diri daripada ‘azab pedih’ yang dijanjikan kepada mereka yang melakukan kerja mungkar. Menipu dibenci oleh ALLAH. So, kenapa menipu ?
Satu saolan mudah saya ingin bertanya kepada penulis berita palsu : Bagaimana jika kamu ditipu oleh isteri dan anak kamu ? Sudah tentu meradang dan naik angin ! Jadi, kenapa kamu sendiri galak menipu ? Nak mampus ? Tuhan bakal lanyak kamu jika terus menipu !
Memang sey marah ! Tapi, untuk kebaikan rakyat termasuk diri kamu. Jika kamu tetap nak berdegil. Lantak kamu ! Rugi kamu yang dapat. Susah kamu yang terima. Sey hanya nasihat ! Kadang-kala pelik sikap manusia. Diri orang lain beriya-iya benar nak didisiplinkan sebaliknya diri sendiri PANTANG DIBERIKAN NASIHAT ! Ada manusia camtu ! DSAI, Okey !
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Tulis yang benar, Tuhan sayang. Tulis berita palsu, Tuhan murka. Bila Tuhan murka, hidup pun payah. Pilih mana suka !
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How the truth will revealed ? History will speak !
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Manusia adalah ciptaan istimewa Allah swt. Dia dikurniakan’aqal’ dan juga nafsu. Haiwan hanya dianugerah nafsu, maka itu haiwan melata di dunia tanpa malu mendedahkan ‘bahagian sulit’nya
Berbanding dengan malaikatpun, manusia mengatasi kerana makhlok Allah ini hanya punya ‘aqal’ justeru tidak tahu selain dari tunduk dan patuh kepada Maha Pencipta.
Dalam kerangka ini, ke mana perginya pertimbangan ‘aqal’ manusia bila berhadapan dengan perkara pembohongan, penipuan dan seribu satu macam mungkar lagi. Adakah kerana manusia golongan ini tidak lagi bertuhankan Allah semesta alam dan menerima politik sebagai Tuhan mereka?
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This 2nd repetitive episode of ’98, is in fact, in reality, another attack on the muslim faith, another humiliating acts by one who claims to be a muslim, charging another muslim of an act, which by shariah law, a muslim should comply, requires 2 male witnesses or 4 female witnesses, that watch the sinister act of the penis of the defendant entering the anus of the accuser, without whom, the case is null & void.
This defaming act of bringing the unproven witnessed sinister act into the civil court, publicly put in a manner for immense humiliations, an act of character assasination, is definitely an agenda to humiliate the muslim syariah laws, and, in general, the practising muslims, throughout the universe.
The most recent issue of using the word ‘Allah’ by some, had ridiculously been blown out of proportions, whereby this accusation of a siniful act, not yet proven, is quite well received by some, and also being properly propagated by the media, who claim to be muslims, definating a double standard in perception of Islam, as a religion, and in demonstration of all mere ignorance.
May Allah the AlMighty defeat the intents of the infidels, InsyaAllah, Amin
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my malay friends say only nombor ekor results(haram) are correct in utusan.
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SAIFUL lebih dikenali sebagai SAIFUL LEWINSKY (nama baru) kerana dia mengunakan cara lewinsky/ Bill Clinton. Cepat belajar.
Kalau semua bukti Saiful adalah palsu , Saiful mesti bertaubat dan merengkuk dalam penjara kerana tipu.
Kasihan Saiful , lama kelamaan yang benar akan menjelma. Besar kemungkinan dia ini hendak sangat kemewahan dan bantuan dari Institusi terkini. Tetapi Institusi ini akan dirobohkan oleh kami – Rakyat Malaysia.
Selepas ini , Saiful akan membuktikan yang semua ini berlaku dalam mimpi sahaja. Untuk perlindungan Saiful memang ada – kurang cekap dalam pelajaran , jarang lulus dalam ujian – kemungkinan besar sel sel otak itu semakin uzur sampai tidak ingat sebarang apa.
Defence apalagi ada? Perjuri itu adalah satu kesalahan. Baik baik bertaubat sekarang jangan terlambat.
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Jika saudara tanya setiap orang anak : Mana bagus, cakap benar atau cakap tipu ? Nescaya mereka akan cakap : Bagus cakap benar ! Jadi, jika anda seorang ‘pemberita’ mana pulak yang saudara pilih ?
Jika anda pilih untuk terus cakap tipu, anda lebih ‘budak’ daripada budak-budak ! Sebaliknya, jika saudara pilih untuk menulis ‘kebenaran’…TAHNIAH ! Memang ALLAH SUKA MEREKA YANG BERKATA BENAR. Banyak manfaatnya ! Seolah-olah, andalah ‘chef’ yang handal serta dapat menghasilkan ‘hidangan’ yang sedap, menarik serta ‘enak’ pula untuk dimakan oleh sahabat-handai.
Jika tidak, anda seolah-olah : “Gunting dalam lipatan” !
Sifat gunting memang tugas ‘menggunting’ ! Tapi, jika gunting tersorok dalam lipatan, memang bahaya ! Salah langkah, terpijak dek kaki sendiri ! Bukankah sifat manusia itu ‘pelupa’ ! Bukan Melayu saja mudah lupa…seluruh manusia termasuk Dr.M. Lupa dia bahawa : Gunting tak kenal tuan.
Saudara tahu kenapa demikian saya berkata ? Sebab perangai Pemimpin Umno, khususnya : Sanggup makan apa saja sehingga ‘kawan sendiri’ sanggup diratahnya ! Punya pelahap. Itu yang berlaku kepada Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Niat baik DSAI mahu membawa ‘pembaharuan’ dari dalam Umno DITOLAK. Maka, ternyata UMNO BENCI PEMBAHARUAN ! Tidak suka oleh mereka kepada ‘kemajuan’. Seronok dengan kepura-puraan. Itulah yang diajar oleh Dr.M.
Ilmu Dr.M. : Sapa ubah, TANGKAP ! Sapa kacau : ISA ! Sapa lawan : HALAU !
Jika demikian mentaliti Dr.M dan Para Pemimpin Umno : Boleh majukah Negara Malaysia ? Para Cendikiawan ada banyak jawapan !
Pernah suatu ketika : Pakar Sains dikeluarkan belanja untuk membuat kajian berhubung kemungkinan ‘penambakan laut’ di Selat Melaka. Malangnya, dibakul sampahkan semua kajian mereka. Demi degil mahu meneruskan hasrat ‘mengaut untung’ projek Jambatan Pantai Sedaka ke Pulau Dayang Bunting, DI KEDAH diteruskan !
Akhirnya : ‘jadi sarang hantu’ kat jambatan dan pulau tersebut. Itu Umno punya ‘akal fikiran’ ! Duit siapa itu, sedara ? Mak-bapak dorang punya ker ? Jawapannya : Daripada hasil cukai yang kita bayar ! Dipersia-siakan begitu saja asalkan ‘kocek’ mereka gemuk ! Tergamak rupanya Umno !
Itu belum lagi cerita tentang Pedu Lakes, Kuala Nerang , Kedah ! Para cendikiawan dikerah buat kajian. Ditong-sampahkan juga kajian, projek diteruskan walaupun pakar geologi kata, tak sesuai dibuat sebarang projek. Sekarang : Jadi hutan semula ! Syed Razak dan Dr.M jangan sangka kami lupa. Penganiayaan kamu sudah melampau. Orang malampau pasti KENA ROTAN !
SAH DIROTAN GURU BESAR ! CIKGU NAK SENYUM JER !
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Setiap perbuatan bermula dengan niat. Ertinya, apa juga keputusan dan perancangan serta tindakan ada tujuan dan matlamatnya. DSAI dituduh dengan pelbagai tohmah. Disebaliknya, tuduhan mereka hanya kerana DSAI mahu ‘memperbetulkan’ enjin yang rosak.
Kereta rosak, ke bengkel kereta kita bawa. Politik rosak, biar ‘Pakar Politik’ Yang tolong repair. Maka, rakyat sokong. Yang payahnya, ‘kereta yang rosak’ banyak plak ragamnya. Kalu berterusan, saya cadangkan kita tukar Umno-BN yang rosak itu dengan yang BARU iaitu…DSAI BERSAMA PAKATAN RAKYAT ! INSYAALLAH.
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bersihkah demokrasi di malaysia..kembalikan kuasa pemilih kepada rakyat!!!
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We shouldn’t be distracted from the real issue here. There are many other newspapers in the country that also focus and report on Anwar’s case. Why should we be intimidated by this one newspaper?
What the international media is doing is trying to question our nation’s credibility so they can find a way to weaken our govt.
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