At this moment, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim must take initiative actions instead of waiting for his doom. The sodomy charge has come nearer while the 16 Sept prophecy has gone far.
His political life is gradually going down the drain from the peak of 8 March general elections. Despite his morale remains strong, but the objective situation and various pressures have pushed him into a critical situation.
By now, he does not have much choices. Among the available choices, a by-election can play a certain role. It qualifies him to be a MP and become the opposition leader, giving him a more comprehensive political status. This can help in his future political struggle.
Meanwhile, he can as well enhance his popularity and inspire PKR’s morale through the by-election.
“Perhaps, Permatang Pauh will be the birth place of a prime minister.”
If he has to face a lawsuit, he would rather face it while he has the most dignified position and the best popularity. Therefore, any result could help him enhance the image of a “suffering hero” and bring the BN government a greater harm.
Thus, he chose a by-election. And since he has made a decision, he must carefully plan it. Permatang Pauh is the safest choice. [more]
Anwar, who is fighting allegations of sodomy with a former aide, played down speculation that he would soon be formally charged.
“With all the evidence that is now before them, I don’t see any reason why the authorities should continue with these investigations of alleged sodomy,” Anwar was quoted as saying by Financial Times.
“In any other system where there is justice and fairness, the powers would have by now shut down the investigations and cleared my name.”
The former deputy premier has said the accusation was a political scheme aimed at halting the opposition’s rise. [more]
PAS President Datuk Seri Hadi Awang says the party has rejected effort to work with Umno to form a coalition government. He stresses that PAS will continue to remain in Pakatan Rakyat.
PETALING JAYA: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has resigned as Permatang Pauh Member of Parliament to make way for her husband Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to contest in a by-election.
At a packed press conference at the party headquarters on Thursday, Dr Wan Azizah said the decision was made after deliberations with her family, the PKR leadership and its partners in the Pakatan Rakyat loose coalition of Opposition parties.
“I have officially submitted my resignation as MP to the Parliament Speaker, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, to make way for my husband, Anwar Ibrahim, to contest as a candidate for Pakatan Rakyat in a by-election as soon as possible,” she said.
Dr Wan Azizah, who showed no emotion during the press conference, said it was the right decision for Malaysia and that she would continue serving as PKR president and chairman of the Peace Foundation.
Together with her were PKR vice-presidents Azmin Ali and R. Sivarasa, her daughter and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, and Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai. [more]
Published: July 31 2008 17:51 | Last updated: July 31 2008 17:51
The FT’s Assif Shameen spoke to Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia’s opposition leader, about the sodomy charges that he faces and his intent to return to politics. The following is an edited transcript of the interview.
Financial Times: There are reports that you will be arrested and charged imminently. Clearly, you don’t think they have a case?
Anwar Ibrahim: First of all, with all the evidence that is now before them, I don’t see any reason why the authorities should continue with these investigations of alleged sodomy. There is this medical report, which is authentic, very clear. A doctor who examined the accuser clearly ruled out any alleged sodomy.
In any other system where there is justice and fairness, the powers would have by now shut down the investigations and cleared my name. But here in Malaysia, in our so-called police state, it is the intent of the officials, particularly the Inspector General of Police, Musa Hassan, which seems to matter most. This is the same man who was involved in my case in 1998 when I was blind folded and brutally assaulted. I have filed a complaint against him citing his involvement. But instead of addressing pressing economic problems like soaring inflation, the government is trying to divert public attention with this filthy sodomy charade.
Financial Times: The government says it must proceed with the sodomy complaint in accordance with law. If you are innocent, as you say, why not just cooperate with investigators?
Anwar Ibrahim: I am cooperating and I have cooperated. Even though I was never shown a copy of the complaint filed by the accuser or officially told exactly what I am being accused of, I have cooperated with the police and tried to answer all their questions. You have probably heard the reports of how they came to arrest me, how I was forced to strip at a government and how I was forced to stay in a cell overnight. All this was staged to humiliate me. On my part, I have provided them fool-proof evidence, alibi. There are no grounds whatsoever for them to proceed any further.
On the other hand, there is compelling evidence of a deliberate and persistent attempt to incriminate me. Why else would they not show me a copy of my accuser’s complaint after six weeks? Why else do they insist on my DNA or blood samples after they have seen a medical report that clearly says that the accuser was never sodomised? Because they want to fabricate evidence. This is what they did in 1998. Just look at their track record. The players are same, the police chief, the attorney general. Same people using same tricks.
Financial Times: Why do you think the authorities are doing this to you?
Anwar Ibrahim: Because they are terrified. Because their corrupt system is crumbling. You see, these are desperate people. [more]
Published: July 31 2008 17:51 | Last updated: July 31 2008 17:51
Anwar Ibrahim, the Malaysian opposition leader, said on Thursday he would run for a parliamentary seat, which his wife would vacate, even though he faced imminent arrest on charges of allegedly sodomising a former aide.
Mr Anwar told the Financial Times that he was gathering support for a “no confidence” motion to be filed in the next six weeks, which could oust the National Front government that has ruled the country since independence from Britain 50 years ago. He also dismissed suggestions the opposition coalition might be cracking.
Mr Anwar was barred from contesting general elections in March after being found guilty of alleged abuse of power relating to an earlier sodomy conviction, which was later overturned. However, the opposition’s unprecedented success in that vote has left it fewer than 30 votes short of a parliamentary majority in the 222-seat legislature, and the restriction on his campaigning has expired.
Even if charged, Mr Anwar could still compete in a by-election and, if successful, fill the seat currently held by his wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. Under these circumstances, he could be removed only if he were convicted and exhausted all appeals.
An official told Reuters on Thursday Mr Anwar faced formal charges “any time now”. Under Malaysian law, sodomy is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Meanwhile, Mr Anwar told the FT that the latest allegations were “a political ploy”.
“Instead of addressing pressing economic problems like soaring inflation, the government is trying to divert public attention with this filthy sodomy charade,” he said. “Our ministers waste their time in political intrigue instead of trying to help make the country more competitive.” [more]
Probe On Alleged Sodomy By Anwar Ibrahim Completed: Syed Hamid
PUTRAJAYA, July 31 (Bernama) — The investigation on the sodomy case allegedly involving Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been completed and forwarded to the Attorney-General for further action, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.
He said it was police procedure to hand over the investigation papers to the Attorney-General’s office as soon as the investigation process had been completed.
“I was made to understand that the investigation process has been completed and the papers handed over to the Attorney-General’s office. It’s up to the Attorney-General to decide the type of action to be taken against him,” he said.
However, Syed Hamid said he was not told about the contents of the investigation papers.
Commenting on the rumour that police would detain Anwar on Thursday, Syed Hamid said everyone must allow the matter to run according to procedure.
“Let it go according to the legal process. Our laws have stipulated that Anwar is innocent until proven otherwise. So far, there has been no charge against him,” he added.
SHAH ALAM: PKR is challenging its former Youth chief Ezam Mohd Nor to stand against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Permatang Pauh by-election.
“We hope Umno will let Ezam to take on Anwar in the by-election.
“Let him come and contest if he dares because this is what the PKR wants,” said Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, a supreme council member and Selangor state liaison chief after a tea session with the media Thursday.
Last week, Ezam, who has joined Umno, said that he was willing to take on Anwar in a by-election and was not afraid to face his former boss if selected by the Barisan Nasional leadership.
Khalid, who is Selangor Mentri Besar, said the party congratulated and thanked PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail for stepping down as Permatang Pauh MP to make way for her husband to contest in the by-election. [more]
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is to contest a by-election for a seat in parliament, the final step of his return to front-line politics.
His wife, who is also an MP, is vacating her seat in Penang, in the northwest of the country.
Mr Anwar was banned from standing for public office until earlier this year.
He is currently facing claims that he sodomised a former male aide – allegations which he strenuously denies.
Sodomy is an offence punishable with a jail term in mainly Muslim Malaysia.
Resurgence
This is the final instalment in Anwar Ibrahim’s bid to return to the top.
He led the new opposition coalition to a stunning showing in Malaysia’s general election earlier this year – but could not stand himself as he was banned following a conviction for corruption and sodomy in 1999. [more]
After deliberating with my family, the Keadilan party leadership and our partners in the Pakatan Rakyat, I have officially submitted my resignation as Member of Parliament of Permatang Pauh to the Speaker of Parliament YB Tan Sri Datuk Pandikar Amin Bin Hj. Mulia today to make way for my husband, Anwar Ibrahim, to contest as a candidate for Pakatan Rakyat in a by-election as soon as possible.This is consistent with our goals towards securing a Parliamentary majority and forming a new government within this year.
This decision is the right decision for Malaysia.
The nation now faces some of the greatest challenges it has encountered since gaining independence. The UMNO-led Barisan Nasional government has mismanaged the economy and steered the nation towards a catastrophe. It has allowed the integrity of the justice system to fall into deeper infamy. It has stroked the flames of racism and driven a wedge of mistrust between Malays, Chinese and Indians, while thoroughly neglecting the needs of the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak.
Anwar Ibrahim has articulated a vision for Malaysia that has brought hope to the people. He has the experience and intelligence to reinvigorate our economy, and the charisma and integrity to unite the Malaysian people and restore credibility to our institutions of governance.
I will continue to serve as president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat and as chairperson of the Yayasan Aman (Peace Foundation).
I whole-heartedly thank my supporters in Permatang Pauh who have stood by me in the most difficult of times since September 1998 and have shared in the joy of victory we all experienced on March 8th. The future of our nation lies in the dedication and commitment to justice and freedom that I have experienced as your representative in Parliament and I look forward to many more years of serving you with sincerity and with humility.
DATO’ SERI DR. WAN AZIZAH WAN ISMAIL
President Parti Keadilan Rakyat President Parti Keadilan Rakyat
Pakatan Rakyat leaders l-r: YB Sivarasah Rasiah, YB Saifuddin Nasution, YB Azmin Ali, YB Nurul Izzah Anwar, Nurul Nuha Anwar, YB Dato’ Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, YB Tan Kok Wai, Dr. Syed Husin Ali, YB Dr. Xavier Jayakumar
