Published March 24, 2010 Malaysia presents itself as a modern, successful and democratic nation. Many western leaders have hailed the country as an example of moderate, tolerant Islam – at ease with itself and with the non-Muslim world. Malaysia does indeed have much to be proud of. But the trial of Anwar Ibrahim, which is due to restart this week, is a massive blot on the country’s reputation for tolerance and political pluralism.
Mr Anwar is a vital figure in the Malaysian opposition. The coalition of opposition forces he leads represents the most potent challenge to the ruling National Front coalition in many years. But Mr Anwar, a married man with six children, is on trial for sodomy. He has already served six years in solitary confinement on charges of sodomy and abuse of power – although the sodomy charges were later over-turned by the courts, leading to Mr Anwar’s release in 2004. If he is convicted this time, he could face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
The first thing to say is that – even allowing for cultural and religious sensitivities – Malaysia should be embarrassed that it is threatening to send a man to prison for consensual sex with another adult. But there are also considerable doubts about the case against Mr Anwar. The evidence against him is thin and the political context is very clear.
The government of Najib Razak sees Mr Anwar as a threat and has been trying to wreck his political career, using a variety of tactics. Aside from the criminal charges that have been brought against the opposition leader, Mr Anwar has been crudely smeared as a tool of “Jewish” interests. Asked once whether Mr Anwar would make a good prime minister, Mahathir Mohammad, the former prime minister of Malaysia, replied: “He would make a good prime minister of Israel.” A modern state should be ashamed of exploiting racism and homophobia to head off a legitimate political challenge.
But it is not just the Malaysian government that deserves to be chastised. Malaysia is an important market and an influential voice in the Islamic world. As a result, western governments that claim to place human rights at the centre of their foreign policy have been very circumspect in their comments on the Anwar trial. Respect for the courts, for national sovereignty and for cultural difference are all worthy ideas. But sometimes, it is important to speak clearly. The trial of Anwar Ibrahim is a disgrace and an embarrassment to Malaysia.
This is the first time I read about non-financial issue in Financial Times. I really think that this article should add more on financial impact of the case etc.
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SABAH CHIEF MINISTER MUST BE INVESTIGATED!!!
WE understand that Sabah has a large financial allocation, amounting to approximately RM6 billion for the development of our agriculture sector and the people of Sabah great pleasure, want to know from Datuk Seri Musa Aman as Chief Minister, to inform people of Sabah, where and how the provisions for agricultural development it spent?
We do not accuse Musa Aman abusing funding RM6 billion is allocated for the agriculture sector, but do not blame if people want to know where the money is used perginya?
As a leader of a transparent and honest to the people and if there is no deviation to the above provisions, Musa Aman are happy to provide edge-channel description will travel these provisions?
This is where people will assess the transparency of the administrative leaders of UMNO Sabah because of what they should do to every provision of the provisions of the Government, every cent should be used to funnel to the people and not for the interests of certain parties or channeled to other channels?
We also expect the Auditor-General Tan Sri Ambrin Remove mengauditkan per cent will be people who have money allocated to Sabah soon be audited if there is any expenditure inverse. We hope that immediate action will be taken and drag any of the individuals involved to face pengadillan. Lest if the audit system is not ‘handicap; where – where the parties’ interest’.
People want to hear any ‘action’ is not cover-up such as Dato ‘Najib explains’ story cover-up’ lost military jet engines, where considered by the AWI as a ‘non-asset Country’ because of the jet engine is characterized by Najib as’ old goods’ .
If Najib assumes the stolen jet engine as ‘old goods’ non-asset country, this means that the Prime Minister of Malaysia ‘encourage’ other ‘old goods’ is not one if stolen because they are not assets of? (Please refer to TV3 last Saturday and newspaper Utusan Malaysia last Sunday).
If so, do not salahlah case no more ‘soldiers’ who steal ‘old goods’ in savings store for taking the ‘precedent’ of the case before? Therefore, would be more ‘goods valuable long’ will be lost from storage in the store!
Back to the allocation of RM6 billion for agriculture of Sabah, we take the statement issued last Saturday TV3 by Dato ‘Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein that’ in UMNO ‘no one immune from the law.
We want to deliver his speech he said if there is any members or leaders of UMNO who violate the law. Is it possible or no more ‘black sheep system’ that would be sacrificed in order to save ‘someone’?
Therefore, we ask the Auditor General to conduct audit of the Sabah Government expenditure projects either through open tender or tender price negotiable instructions contrary to the Treasury and Finance Procedure Act.
If the tender rundingharga occur in Sabah, Musa Aman should also be investigated by the Auditor General and National Audit Department investigation results shall be ‘Blue print’ knowledge as the people of Sabah.
We are not not believe in Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (SPRM) to investigate, but people have less confidence in the integrity of the SPRM less work correctly because Musa Aman regarded as too resistant and waterproof action SPRM in Sabah.
We do not accuse, but not one we want to know if the transparency UMNO / BN in Sabah. We ask UMNO and BN has proven that they perform their duties with honesty and responsibility without any ‘shrimp behind the stone’.
We ask UMNO and BN immediately ‘stretch’ their way or if they will not lose all their power and position in the coming PRU13. Allah willing.
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NOTHING TO BE ASHAME OF… IN FACT, IT IS SOMETHING MALAYSIAN TO BE PROUD OF.. JUSTICE IN ACTION.
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Malaysia should be embarrassed that it is threatening to send a man to prison for consensual sex with another adult.
eerrrr……is this confession?
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