The plot to frame Anwar is revealed!

The plot to frame Anwar is revealed! 30 July 2008 - Aliran The civilised world must be outraged by what is taking place in Malaysia. Justice is being trampled upon and truth is being sacrificed for political expediency without shame or remorse. And it is not fair that we have to suffer this humiliation. Thinking Malaysians are perplexed how on earth the police went ahead to investigate Anwar Ibrahim for sodomy even though there were allegedly medical reports confirming that there was no basis for their action. According to the medical report in the possession of Malaysiakini, Saiful was never sodomised by anyone, least of all by Anwar Ibrahim. Dr Mohamed Osman Hamid from the Hospital Pusrawi had confirmed this fact after physically examining Saiful on 28 June 2008. Yet four hours later, Saiful made a police report at the police pondok in Hospital Kuala Lumpur that Anwar had sodomised him. At 6.00pm on that day, Saiful went to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for his second medical examination which, according to an unverified report by Raja Petra, also confirmed that Saiful was not sodomised. Nevertheless, he made his police report against Anwar. The police cannot claim that they were in the dark over the existence of these reports. In any case, the police are required to send victims of rape or sodomy for a medical examination to confirm the allegations and collect vital medical evidence for prosecution purposes. When Saiful made that damning report against Anwar, he must have surely disclosed to the police that such an examination had already been carried out by doctors. That being the case, the police would have obtained these reports and must be fully aware that the police report made by Saiful was therefore without any merit. Yet, why was Anwar arrested, questioned and detained? Doesn’t this indicate that there was a plot to vilify him and convict him on false charges? If the police had acted professionally, would they have gone ahead with what they had done, unnecessarily putting to risk their reputation and credibility? Or were they taking instructions from politicians who felt threatened and therefore were bent on destroying Anwar to preserve their power base? The whole sodomy episode reeks with injustice and stinks to high heaven. This sordid affair brings to mind something that was said long ago: “Of all injustice, that is the greatest which goes under the name of law, and of all sorts of tyranny the forcing of the letter of the law against equity, is the most insupportable.” Under the circumstance, Aliran is horrified and revolted that the police have seemingly paid scant respect to the rule of law. They owe an explanation to the public. There are reports floating around that Dr Mohamed Osman Hamid from the Hospital Pusrawi had gone missing because it is alleged that he is being harassed to change the report to implicate Anwar. Aliran would like to know if this is true. Aliran would like to know whether the medical report in the possession of Malaysiakini apparently from Hospital Pusrawi and signed by Dr Mohamed Osman Hamid is genuine and a true and faithful copy of the original report that is with Hospital Pusrawi. Aliran would like to know whether the police is brave enough to make public the existing reports from hospital Puswari and Hospital Kuala Lumpur in order to end the rumours circulating that these reports have indeed vindicated Anwar Ibrahim. Aliran would like to know in the event when these reports are verified as true and genuine whether the police would forthwith drop all charges against Anwar and stop hounding him as if he has a case to answer. Aliran would like to know when it is established that Saiful had made a false report to the police whether he would be arrested and charged immediately. Aliran would like to know the unseen hands behind this episode who had apparently used Saiful to frame Anwar for their political survival. This matter has dragged on long enough and it is time to bring it to a closure without any further delay. Will the Prime Minister out of respect for the dignity of the human being and in fairness to justice display common decency in setting up a Commission of Inquiry to bring to book all those who had tarnished our nation with their nefarious activities which had brought to question the credibility of our police force? P Ramakrishnan President 29 July 2008 ...source

Were the Anwar Sodomy Charges Faked?

Were the Anwar Sodomy Charges Faked? Jed Yoong 28 July 2008 - Asia Sentinel A medical report surfaces saying the male aide who filed charges against the opposition leader wasn’t molested See the Doctor's Report The doctor who examined a 23-year-old male aide allegedly sodomized by Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim found no evidence of tearing or scarring that would indicate penetration, according to a medical report leaked to local journalists. If the document is genuine, it can be expected to raise further suspicions of complicity on the part of top government leaders in attempting to destroy Anwar politically. The charges against Anwar, filed by the youth on June 28, could end the opposition politician's political career and put him back behind bars, where he had spent six years from 1999 on similar charges, which human rights organizations across the world condemned as trumped up. Sodomy is a crime punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment and caning Anwar was arrested two weeks after the youth filed the complaint and was jailed overnight on July 15 after police, some wearing balaclava masks, descended on his home, a move that sent Anwar's supporters into the streets around the police station where he was being held. He refused at that time to give a DNA specimen, charging that it could be misused. According the medical report, which allegedly was filed at Hospital Pusrawi Sdn Bhd on Jalan Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur, the aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, was examined by Dr Mohamed Osman on June 28 at 2 pm. After he had gone to the hospital to complain about pain he said he was suffering in his anus, he allegedly told hospital personnel that he had been assaulted by a "very important person." After Dr Mohamad refused to write a report that Saiful had been sodomized, according to Malaysia Today, the doctor suggested that the youth obtain another diagnosis at a government hospital. Doctors at that hospital also refused to confirm a diagnosis of sodomy, according to the publication, although it did not name the doctors. Nonetheless, Malaysia Today reported, Saiful filed the report of assault at a nearby police kiosk four hours later. After Mohamad Osman made the report indicating no sexual assault had taken place, police picked up the doctor and detained him for three days to attempt to persuade him to change his diagnosis, according to Malaysia Today. The doctor, the publication said, has since gone into hiding with his family. In a telephone interview with Asia Sentinel, Deputy Inspector General of Police Ismail Omar confirmed that Dr Mohamad had been questioned, but said he had never been detained. Attempts to reach hospital officials were unsuccessful. They were said to be in a meeting. However, although the medical report could not be independently verified, a senior Pusrawi Hospital official told the Internet publication Malaysiakini this morning that the hospital had launched an internal investigation on how Saiful's medical report was leaked, which is widely considered as a major infringement of patient privacy. When Malaysiakini showed the official a copy of the report, he refused to return it but he didn't describe it as fake, saying, "It's our document." Anwar's party issued a statement saying that "the medical report leaked today appears to confirm what we have always believed - that the allegations against Anwar Ibrahim are without merit and politically motivated." The existence of the report, the statement continued, "further erodes any confidence the public would have in the credibility of the police report that has been filed against Anwar Ibrahim, a report which remains shrouded in secrecy. Why has this medical report surfaced only today, over one month after the allegations were made, after (Anwar) spent a night in jail, and after the police have spent so much time and money on this case?" Anwar and his three-party coalition, made up of his own Parti Keadilan Rakyat, the Democratic Action Party and Parti Islam se-Malaysia, are attempting to oust the ruling Barisan Nasional, or National Coalition, from 50 years of unbroken power. In March 8 elections, the opposition coalition broke the two-thirds hold the BN had enjoyed in parliament since independence. Anwar was in the political wilderness for a decade after he broke with former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in 1998. Although the 1999l sodomy charge against him was later reversed, the 61-year-old former deputy prime minister was barred from running for political office because the corruption charge remained. That ban, however, has been repealed and Anwar expects to stand in a by-election. If he is victorious, he has repeatedly forecast that in mid-September he will lure enough pro-Barisan lawmakers this side to take over the government. Anwar has made numerous allegations of political corruption against top leaders of the United Malays National Organisation, the lead party in the three-party Barisan Nasional. If the coalition indeed takes power, top members of the government, the judiciary and law enforcement have a great deal to fear. Anwar has already sought to have his original conviction reversed and has filed charges against Abdul Ghani Patail, the attorney general, and Musa Hassan, the chief of police for allegedly fabricating the evidence against him in the original case. Malaysia Today earlier reported that a witness told the publication Saiful had met with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, the designated successor to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Anwar's rival for political power, concerning the filing of the charges. Najib had first told reporters he had never met with the youth and later said he had only met him briefly for "career counseling." Raja Petra himself has been a major source of embarrassment to the government, directly accusing Najib and his wife of being involved in the brutal execution murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was shot twice in the head in October of 2006 and dumped in a patch of jungle before she was blown up with plastic explosive. In response, the government - although neither Najib nor his wife - has charged Raja Petra with both sedition and criminal libel, a statute that is very rarely used today and deals with the danger to national security. Raja Petra, a member of the Selangor sultanate, has refused to back down, saying that if he goes to jail, he intends to take Najib down with him. Prime Minister Badawi has fully backed Najib and named him as his successor. Despite numerous attempts to get Najib into court for interrogation, the judge in the year-old trial of one of his best friends and two of his bodyguards for Altantuya's murder has refused to call him, most recently last week. ...source

Credibility of Justice System At Stake

Press Release: Saiful's medical report Ambiga Sreenevasan - President, Malaysian Bar 28 July 2008 Very troubling reports have been published, which reveal the existence of a medical report of an examination done by a doctor on Mohd Saiful Bukhari bin Azlan a few hours before Saiful lodged a police report that he had been sodomised. The medical report apparently shows that there is no evidence that he had been sodomised by anyone. Such reports raise some very serious questions that require immediate answers: (1) Are the police in possession of such a medical report? (2) Was the doctor concerned interviewed by the police and was he detained for any length of time? (3) Is the doctor concerned facing any form of intimidation and if so, by whom? (4) Is there a medical report by another doctor that either confirms or contradicts the first medical report? (5) If it is true that the medical report exists showing a lack of prima facie evidence, what then could have been the justification for the vigorous actions taken against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as well as the public call by the authorities for his DNA sample? The answers to these questions are of paramount importance, as they bring into focus the integrity of our law enforcement system. These latest disclosures regarding the investigations into the sodomy allegations are not the only ones to raise questions that need answering. There is, for example, also the issue of P. Balasubramaniam’s abrupt “disappearance” that has yet to be satisfactorily explained. No one can deny that the circumstances of his first and second statutory declarations are highly unusual. All these show a pattern of events that cause much disquiet to right-thinking members of the public. The Malaysian people are deeply troubled. A country that truly believes in the rule of law should not be faced with so many disturbing developments and unanswered questions. The credibility of the Malaysian justice system as a whole is therefore at stake. The integrity of professionals, be they doctors or lawyers, must never be interfered with. The public must be left in no doubt that the criminal justice system in this country will not be misused or abused. There must be nothing less than an open and thorough investigation into these cases. This calls for the courage and professionalism of all those involved to do the right thing no matter the consequences. And those who have shown such courage and integrity must know that they live in a country where it is safe to do so. Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan President Malaysian Bar ...source

No sodomy - Malaysians taken for a ride

It has now been revealed that the doctor who examined Saiful 4 hours before he made his police report (which until today has not been released to the accused person) has reported that Saiful was not sodomised.

The doctor stated in his report that there was

• "zero active bleeding"
  
• "zero ulcer or pus"
  
• "zero tear and scar"
  

in Saiful's anus.

Malaysians have been taken for a ride.

Doctor: No evidence of sodomy Jul 28, 2008 - Malaysiakini There is no evidence that Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan was sodomised, according to the doctor who examined him four hours before he lodged a police report alleging he was sexually assaulted by PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim. It is believed that Anwar's former aide Saiful (left) went to two different hospitals on June 28 - the day he lodged the police report claiming that he was sodomised by his ex-boss. He first went to Hospital Pusrawi (Pusat Rawatan Islam) in Jalan Tun Razak - a government-linked Islamic medical institution - at about 2pm. According to a copy of the two-page medical report obtained by malaysiakini yesterday, Saiful went to the hospital complaining of 'tenesmus' - a medical term for difficulty and pain in passing motion. He was examined by Dr Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid, the medical officer on duty. The doctor said that the patient had alleged he was assaulted by the intrusion of a piece of "plastic" in the anus. Mohamed Osman, according to his medical report which was recorded at 2.14pm, found "zero active bleeding", "zero ulcer or pus", "zero tear and scar" in Saiful's anus. He also stated that Saiful appeared "alert", "comfortable", "not pale" and did not show any fever symptoms. ...more

Doctor on the run: police want him to fabricate evidence against Anwar NO HOLDS BARRED - Malaysia Today Raja Petra Kamarudin The doctor’s report says it very clearly. Saiful was never sodomised, either by Anwar or anyone else. Why is the government still pursuing the case against Anwar? And why are they looking for the doctor who has now gone underground with his whole family? On 21 July 2008, I published an article in this same column called HOW, YET AGAIN, THEY ARE TRYING TO FABRICATE EVIDENCE AGAINST ANWAR. (Read the article here ). In that article I mentioned as follows: You see, they asked a certain doctor from a certain hospital to conduct an examination on Saiful. The doctor did so and he came out with a report that said there is no evidence Anwar had ever penetrated or sodomised the young man. The police then picked up the doctor and detained him for three days. As much as they tried to force him to change his report to implicate Anwar he refused to do so. Until today, the doctor stands by his report that there is no evidence Anwar had sodomised Saiful. He knows he is going to be made to pay for this but he doesn’t care. He is not going to change his report and say that Anwar sodomised Saiful whatever they do to him. Exasperated, the police had to release Anwar on personal bond or police bail. The doctor refuses to doctor his report and neither does Anwar want to volunteer his new specimen. Well, that doctor’s name is Dr Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid from the Hospital Pusrawi and he has now taken his entire family and has gone into hiding because the police are looking for him and they want him to change his medical report. At 2.00pm on 28 June 2008, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Bin Azlan went to see Dr Mohamed Osman to complain about a pain he is suffering in his anus. Saiful told the doctor that he had been assaulted by ‘a very important person’ -- meaning, of course, sodomised by Anwar Ibrahim. Dr Mohamed Osman examined Saiful but found no evidence that he had been sodomised, either by Anwar Ibrahim or anyone else for that matter. The doctor’s report (which can be viewed below) says that there is zero (0) skin tearing, zero (0) active bleeding, zero (0) traces of pus, etc., which basically means he can’t be suffering from a pain in the anus as what he alleges. The doctor’s diagnosis is that he rules out or TRO (to rule out) assault (sodomised). In short: Mohd Saiful Bukhari Bin Azlan is not suffering any pain in the anus and neither was he assaulted or sodomised in the anus. Saiful then said he would like to make a police report so Dr Mohamed Osman suggested he go for a second medical examination at a government hospital. Saiful did so and the doctor at the government hospital also came out with the same diagnosis. Nevertheless, Saiful still made his police report at the pondok police in the hospital. In spite of the doctors all confirming that Saiful was never sodomised, the police still pursued the case. Anwar Ibrahim was subsequently arrested by about 20 SWAT members in Balaclavas and armed to the teeth in a dramatic movie-style action-packed drama in front of his house after he had confirmed he would be reporting to the police station at 2.00pm as required. The police detained Anwar in the lockup until the next morning and even brought him to the hospital for examination and to try to obtain his specimen for what the police say are for purposes of doing a DNA profile. The fact that the police already have Anwar’s DNA profile from 1998, plus the doctors from both hospitals confirm that Saiful was never sodomised, did not seem to matter. Clearly the government is attempting to fabricate evidence against Anwar and is trying to indict him on trumped-up charges of sodomy. And who but the slime-ball AG and scumbag IGP, the same two players in the 1998 episode, can be behind this latest travesty of justice. The doctor’s report says it very clearly. Saiful was never sodomised, either by Anwar or anyone else. Why is the government still pursuing the case against Anwar? And why are they looking for the doctor who has now gone underground with his whole family? Civil society movements, NGOs and the Malaysian Bar Council must not remain silent. The police have already detained the doctor for three days but he still refuses to doctor his medical report. Anwar did not sodomise Saiful and the doctor’s report says it very clearly. And the police also have a copy of this same report that I have published below so they know what I know. And now Malaysians also already know what I and the police know -- that Saiful was never sodomised by anyone. ...more

Anwar in Jasin

Anwar in Jasin - Part I Part II Part III Part IV Part V Part VI Part VII

Political Motivations Undermine Anwar Case

Malaysia: Political Motivations Undermine Anwar Case Human Rights Watch (New York, July 21, 2008) – Malaysian government allegations that opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim forcibly sodomized a male aide lack credibility, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch is concerned that Anwar’s arrest was a politically motivated attempt to derail the opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat’s (People’s Alliance) much-publicized campaign to form a new government by September 16, 2008. Human Rights Watch urged the Malaysian government to ensure any investigations are transparent, impartial, and in accordance with international standards of due process. “The Malaysian government’s record provides little basis to believe this is anything other than a partisan political attack on Anwar,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “In light of past false allegations and his unfair trial, Anwar has good reason to worry that his rights won’t be respected.” The police have to date refused to release the first information report lodged by former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan on June 28. Anwar’s lawyers have repeatedly requested the report, which under Malaysian law is a public document. A person named in a first information report has the right to a copy of the report. The refusal of the police to make the original report public has fueled suspicions that it may be altered. Saiful remains under police protection. Human Rights Watch said that the arrest of Anwar on July 16, one hour before he was due at Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent Headquarters for questioning, was unnecessary and heavy-handed. Anwar has repeatedly pledged – the last time just before his arrest on July 16 – to fully cooperate with the investigation. Some 20 police officers in 10 cars stopped Anwar, who was returning home by car, and took him in a police car for questioning. Many wore balaclavas to hide their identities. After more than five hours of questioning, police kept Anwar in a holding cell overnight with no bed. He had to sleep on a cement floor despite a well-known back problem. “The police operation to arrest Anwar was designed to intimidate and punish,” Adams said. “This inquiry has already raised serious concerns about police bias, transparency, and the government’s willingness to flout the law for political ends.” Sodomy, even if consensual, is punishable by up to 20 years of imprisonment. It is unclear whether Anwar will be formally charged with sodomy. The standard practice in Malaysia is that once police conclude investigations, they forward the investigation papers to the Attorney General’s Chambers to evaluate the evidence and decide whether to prosecute. Human Rights Watch said that recent comments by senior Cabinet ministers, including Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and Home Minister Syed Hamid that Anwar should provide a DNA sample to the police constitute improper interference. On July 18, Prime Minister Abdullah said “If he is not guilty, why worry about giving a new DNA sample. If he is indeed innocent, there is nothing for him to fear… If he has not done anything, than provide a sample. Do it. I want to see it. Let’s see the result which could prove that he did not do it.” Anwar had refused to voluntarily provide his DNA sample, due to concern that it could be manipulated against him. “Comments by government ministers about Anwar’s case are improper pressure on the police and prosecutor,” said Adams. “Malaysia claims to be a well-ordered democracy wedded to the rule of law, but the Anwar investigation says just the opposite.” Background: Anwar Prosecution, Take Two Human Rights Watch said that the current case bears a strong resemblance to the previous politically motivated corruption and sodomy charges against Anwar in 1998, while he was serving as deputy prime minister and finance minister. Those charges came after Anwar challenged then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad over accusations of corruption, cronyism and mismanagement of the Asian financial crisis, leading to Anwar’s dismissal. The High Courts in 1999 and 2000 sentenced Anwar to a total of 15 years of imprisonment for corruption and sodomy, despite his appearing in court with extensive facial bruises from a police custodial beating by the then national police chief – who was convicted in 2000 for assaulting Anwar – and the grave discrepancies that pervaded the entire police investigation, prosecution and trial processes. Anwar served six years before Malaysia’s apex Federal Court overturned the sodomy conviction in September 2004. Anwar testified on July 16 and 21, 2008 before the Anti-Corruption Agency that the present inspector general of police (then investigating officer in both the corruption and sodomy charges) and attorney general (then senior deputy public prosecutor for the sodomy case) fabricated evidence in relation to the serious assault he suffered while under police custody. Anwar was barred from running for a parliamentary seat at the time of Malaysia’s general elections on March 8, 2008, but the coalition he is credited with forging, Pakatan Rakyat, succeeded in drastically reducing the power of the long-dominant Barisan Nasional (National Front) government coalition by winning 81 parliamentary seats and seizing control of five state governments, including Selangor and Penang. Until March, Barisan Nasional had enjoyed a two-thirds, veto-proof majority in the 222-seat house and the control of all state governments except one. ...source

Gimme Your DNA II

The following is a sample of what many Malaysians think of the improper and illogical behaviour of BN politicians including the PM in demanding that Anwar provide fresh samples of his DNA (from Malaysiakini).

'DNA profiling is permanent' Jul 22, 2008 - Malaysiankini ‘The idea that the current government and police force need to have Anwar's blood for new DNA profiling is illogical.’ On Existing DNA sample too old, says PM DR PR: Why must Syed Hamid Albar and the PM coax Anwar Ibrahim to give a blood specimen? What interest do they have in this episode if it is not political? The survival or demise of BN depends on the outcome of this case. The Mahathir family and the DPM have their worries too. The PM and Syed Hamid have said that Anwar has nothing to fear and foreign experts may obtain the specimen. Either they do not understand or pretend not to understand the fears of DSAI. To put it bluntly, a blood or serum specimen from DSAI could be introduced by catheter into the rectum of the complainant (or mixed in vitro ie. with Saiful's specimen outside of the body in a test tube) and any sample taken from Saiful will show the presence of Anwar's DNA. Thus Anwar will be found to guilty of sodomy. Simple. I have two suggestions to get around this problem: 1. Get a foreign DNA expert to obtain a specimen from Saiful, create a DNA profile, seal the results and leave it with the court under security (or should it be double security?). Subsequently, get Anwar’s specimen and compare his DNA profile with that obtained from Saiful. 2. The other option would be to radio-label Anwar's specimen. If the radio isotope is detectable in Saiful's specimen, then you will know that it has been planted. Dr Nedu: It was the joke of the century when the PM commented on the DNA. The funny part is he got the facts wrong. When the experts collect blood samples the get the coding, it is translated into a chart which is on permanent record. This record is done once, and that's it. It is something like profiling a blood test. If you are in the group of A+, then you are forever A+. It is unnecessary to withdraw blood to get the grouping after 10 years or 20 years. The grouping will not change. Likewise, DNA profiling is permanent. The idea that the current government and police force need to have Anwar's blood for new DNA profiling is illogical. This simply shows the lack of knowledge among this group of people and to paint bad picture about DSAI refusing to allow blood sample taken from him. Why is PM getting involved when he said police are independent and that the Umno politicians are not getting involved in the investigation of the so-called sodomy case of DSAI.? Why did he say ‘we’? That shows he is part of the team that accused DSAI of sodomy. Forget about the sodomy case. Look at other important unsolved cases, like the missing Sharline, Lingam tape, Altantuya murder, missing Bala, and Datuk Johari's cases. etc. After all is said and done, DSAI is the best leader this nation can get. We the rakyat want him as our next PM. V for Vernon: While scientists the world over have extracted and reliably used DNA from over tens of thousands of years ago, our local saintis kampung in the form of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says that ten-year-old DNA samples are no good and that they need fresh DNA from Anwar. Genetic experts should weigh in on the range, by way of confidence intervals for example, on how precise the age of a DNA sample can be pinpointed. For example, if they have Anwar's DNA from 10 years ago and tried to plant it as evidence, it may clearly be debunked using objective tests that indicate a sample obtained from a time period not corresponding to the time that Saiful says he was sodomised. (i.e., DNA does indeed disintegrate over time, yet does not lose its ability to ‘finger print’ the individual). On the other hand, fresh DNA might fall within a range of estimates for the time period corresponding to Saiful's allegation. That may be why the government and the police are increasingly desperate to obtain fresh DNA samples from Anwar, so that if planted, it becomes very uncertain exactly when it was ‘deposited’ into Saiful's posterior, with the actual planting of evidence becoming indistinguishable from the alleged act of depositing semen by way of sodomy. Concerned Malaysian: I am neither in support of nor against the government but a concerned Malaysian watching this unfortunate sodomy accusation episode. A question came to my mind - if I am not mistaken, the government already has the data on Anwar's DNA taken in the past. This data can be used by the police to match any DNA taken from the place of offence as described by the accuser. If the DNA taken from the place of offence matches the data taken in the past then the police would have sufficient evidence to charge Anwar. Why the need for a fresh sample, and the reason that Anwar's DNA sample taken in the past being too old? Too old for what purpose? Enough Already: Dinosaur DNA can still be analysed after how many millions of years, but Anwar's decade-old DNA sample is too old? For what? Why not say Anwar's thumb print in his IC is too old? What's the prime minister doing publicly taking sides on an issue under police investigation anyway? Do he have a vested interest in a certain outcome? Kenneth: In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 11, it states: Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which they have had all the guarantees necessary for their defence. In short, it means ‘innocent until proven guilty’. So it's quite a shock for me when our prime minister says ‘If he has not done anything, than provide a sample. Do it. I want to see it. Let's see the result which could prove that he did not do it.’ I might be wrong, but as far as I know, it's not up to us to prove we are innocent, but up to the police and the prosecutor to collect and present enough compelling evidence to convince the judge. Smelly Evidence: Why do the police not get international experts to be brought in to examine the DNA evidence of Saiful first before testing it with that of DSAI? If the government wants to make things transparent, then they should get several independent experts to extract Saiful’s DNA, verify them to make sure that they are all similar before publicly comparing it with the DNA of DSAI. That way, there will be no doubt if the evidence have been tampered with. I doubt the police or government will agree to this as they are hiding too many facts from the public again. Even Saiful’s police report has not been given to DSAI to date. GK: When did our PM became a DNA specialist? The experts are telling us that DNA could be preserved for a number of years. What happened to the DNA samples taken in 1998? Perhaps the BN has finished it up for their fabrication. The whole world knows that DSAI was framed in 1998 and that the current BN is trying to direct Dr Mahathir’s drama again. The police are not releasing their police report, but are hungry for DSAI’s DNA sample. Mengchai: ‘If he has not done anything, then provide a sample. Do it. I want to see it. Let's see the result which could prove that he did not do it,’ he (Pak Lah) told reporters. Once bitten twice shy. You have given many assurances, but with your flip-flop decisions, it may change overnight. You may not do it. Can you trust your people? Whatever you say, the rakyat has already lost confidence in you and won’t swallow every word you utter. Increasing the petrol price didn’t take long, but reducing the tolls will take months. We know you have two years and by then you may have forgotten the development your promised your home state. Do you think you will be remembered as one of the great PMs of Malaysia? A Concerned Citizen: I personally feel that this DNA sampling is not necessary, since there is no official police report available to Anwar on what charges he has been indicted on. All this while, we’ve only heard and read the charges in the news and newspaper. Where is the actual report? Maybe if the police can make this available, then Anwar can go for the DNA sampling. And this must be done under the observation of foreign experts, whom I suggest to handle this case since I don’t trust the police. Secondly, the police should make Saiful’s report available to Anwar since they don’t have the right to withhold it. Is there any law that can force the police to release this report? If no, Anwar can sue the force for lodging a false report against him and ask the court to drop the case once and for all. So far with the investigations of this case, we’ve only heard the police and the government pester Anwar to give his DNA. What the heck do they want if they can’t even compel the police to release the police report lodged against Anwar? Chong Yee Yap: I find it very distressing to read so many comments that keep repeating themselves about Anwar's DNA and all that stuff about the corrupt police and the judiciary. Yes, I too agree that the police and the judges of the Malaysian courts just cannot be trusted, but nobody has even touched on proof of the evidence of the corruption of police and judges. We have all been told that Anwar has given the police his alibi. That is enough for the police to begin their investigation, and only if police in the course of their investigation find more incriminating evidence that is not consistent with Anwar's alibi can they ask for another explanation. This procedure has not been adhered to, therefore it is very timely and correct for the public to be suspicious of the intentions of the police. Anwar is right in not providing his DNA because he is not required to do so on grounds ‘self-incrimination’. No accused person can be compelled to self-incriminate himself. That is the law and it must be adhered to. The next point that I want to raise to evidence is the fact that Saiful has confessed to sodomy. He has said that he committed sodomy with Anwar, and that means he is a self-confessed sodomite. I am not saying that he did, but I am saying is that he has confessed to sodomy and in his confession he has confessed to being an accomplice to the offence. This therefore places the burden on the police and the AG to instantly prosecute Saiful for sodomy. The conviction of Saiful does not necessarily mean that Anwar participated in the crime because there is no evidence that implicates Anwar. It is for that reason that we can say the police and the AG's office want to frame Anwar with fresh DNA. Everybody knows that DNA has been kept active for centuries, only our PM does not know that. From my perspective, I believe that Anwar's team ought to consider this approach because that is the law. Ahmad Fuad: I am a complete greenhorn in this dog-eat-dog world of Malaysian politics. But when I hear and read of how a squad of ten (or was it fifteen? Whatever lah) public-funded vehicles, loaded with public-funded police in full battle gear (balaclavas and all), I told myself, ‘Ah...there's something more here! ‘It cannot just be about arresting a 61-year-old man who's only weapon that he carries is God-given. I was sure that it was about ‘someone’ setting out to embarrass someone else.’ Thank you, gentlemen. I am now not only convinced, I now also have (and I am sure others out there, too) a very good idea of those behind this satanic scheme: the players, the financiers and all the way up to the ‘producers’. Thank you, sirs. You made my day. Andrew Lee: Give Anwar’s accuser a break. He may be waiting for the samples before he continues proper toilet hygiene. JTB: Anwar went through a harrowing experience in 1998. The Malaysian public are not stupid enough not to see that the manner in which he was arrested was all a set up to treat him like a wanted terrorist. Did you notice the markings on the jacket of one of the ski masked special force chaps? Team A is written, presumably because they used the best team in the force to apprehend Anwar. What fresh sample is needed? His DNA has been taken in 1998 and they already have the records of his DNA profile. If I was Anwar, I would not give my blood sample to the police, not after the great set up in the 1998 episode. We Malaysians feel that there is no need for you to subject yourself to this humiliation anymore. Your refusal to give your blood sample for DNA profiling is now a symbol of your cause to challenge an oppressive regime. We still remember how the prosecution fixed up the mattress incident. How can we forget Augustine Paul expunging the evidence? I would like to know about the alleged victim, Saiful, who was sent to the hospital and examined. Was he stripped naked, measured and photographed? Most Malaysians would like to ask the prime minister, ‘Why is it so difficult for the police to give a copy of the police report made by Saiful to Anwar Ibrahim or his lawyer? Do you not think that Anwar is an interested party in this matter? Why the secrecy? Have the police now declared that Saiful’s report is now sulit and protected under the ‘Official Secrets Act’? Can the Prime Minister tell Malaysians whether there was a police report made by Saiful or not? We Malaysians have a right to know. CSI Fan: I don't understand why the police need to get a new DNA specimen from Anwar. The police should already have his DNA profile from 1998 and that can be used to compare with the evidence found in this new case. Don’t our police save the DNA profiles of convicted sex offenders like Codis in the US? If we don't have such a database, just open the old files. JKS: If you watch documentaries on Astro, there are so many instances in ‘New Detective,’ ‘Bone Detective,’ ‘Discovery Magazine’ and other programmess where you would have seen than DNA samples (blood, tissue or semen) preserved for years at room temperature in an evidence room, nearly a century in paraffin wax and Alaskan permafrost, and presumably centuries in the freezer under certain natural and artificial preservation methods such as embalming chemicals. The PM and home minister are faking sincerity, and are made to talk by their home ministry and law enforcement underlings. The tail is wagging the dog. The public can only assume that some rogue underlings need fresh blood to plant as fake evidence. Nothing else delivers relevant information, exchanges good arguments, sharpens the public debate, and exposes ill-considered and hypocritical arguments as quickly as the mass web media. Jamilah Wahid: The prime minister's statement that a fresh sample is needed to determine DNA identity only shows his ignorance. One has to know that the requirement for a fresh sample is only necessary if there is no record of DNA profile of the relevant subject. If there is already a sample in custody (old or new), it does not make any difference if the sole purpose is for the DNA is a profile match. Even the DNA profile in the record (court records of the previous case) would suffice to make the match. Thousand-year-old dinosaurs are being profiled using traces of fossilised samples. In this event, any out-of-the-way demands for a fresh sample will only create suspicions. Chuacj: I am writing from the base of common sense as I am no expect in DNA profiling or any medical field. First thing’s first, I am not sure why the police need the fresh DNA from Anwar, as they already have the previous DNA profile in their records. The police just need to compare the evidence against the old records. The only reason for wanting the fresh DNA is so that they can plant it anywhere they like. Why are Saiful’s charges not being given to Anwar's lawyer? This proves that the police still haven't decided what to charge him with. I support not giving DNA to the police 100% . I hope more NGO will write in support of this and pressure the police to give Saiful’s report to Anwar. Also, why does the PM need to give his view on this and say that the sample is too old? Why is he such a busybody in this case? I believe he has better things to do, like setting up the royal commission for the Bala, Lingam and Raja Petra cases, plus the Sabah (illegal immigrant) case. Stand up like a man and do a man's job. TJ Lee: I find it embarrassing that our prime minister is speaking, again like an ignoramus. I find this incessant demand for Anwar's DNA sample most perplexing. As I understand it, the purpose of a DNA sample in a criminal case (say semen, blood, saliva, a skin flake) is for the purpose of DNA finger printing. Our DNA, like our finger print, is unique to each of us. The likelihood of another person (living or dead) having the same exact DNA as us is extremely, extremely low, except with identical twins. Now, Anwar's DNA finger print would have been in the police records since 1998/1999, would it not? A DNA sample may get stale, but a DNA finger print does not. I mean, my finger print does not get stale through time, does it? So what is this talk about stale DNA sample? It is perplexing. If I am Anwar, I would kick up the same fuss. Why the need for the DNA sample if you already have my DNA finger print? PT Tan: I find Anwar case perplexing. a. Prime Minister says Anwar must give a DNA sample to clear his name. Strange, I thought the police need to find him guilty. Anwar is innocent until proven otherwise. b. His previous DNA profile is deemed old - that is why they need a new sample. I know politicians change parties, change colour and change many other things, but a person’s DNA profile is constant from the day of his conception. Concerned: Many people are uncertain how DNA can be used for manipulation or cheating. Here is one simple way. Suppose Anwar gives his blood and his DNA is tested. The authorities then put away some of it. The rest is used as evidence. The police could then put Anwar in jail because they can confidently declare that it is the same type of DNA found in Saiful. How can that be? Show proof. Voila, there is the proof. The police take out Anwar's DNA that was put away. The only way to prevent this from happening is for somebody to stare at the DNA day and night. Brooklynbridge: Presumably, given its high degree of pleasure, ease of performance, and low expense, sodomy is an act committed with considerable frequency throughout Malaysia, despite being against the law. How many arrests, prosecutions and convictions have there been for this crime? If the government is as zealous about enforcing the law in all cases, not just with its political enemies, the prisons should be full of sodomites - that is, convicted sodomites. ...source

Anwar in Melaka

Anwar in Melaka (courtesy Malaysiakini)
Part I	Part II
Part III	Part IV

Malaysia Anwar gives alibi, faces pressure on DNA

Malaysia Anwar gives alibi, faces pressure on DNA Fri Jul 18, 2008 - Reuters KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim has given details of his alibi to the police investigating a sodomy allegation, his lawyer said on Friday, as he faced mounting pressure to provide a DNA sample. Anwar, who has dismissed the accusation as a high-level conspiracy to quash the opposition's rise, has refused a DNA test because he said it could be tampered with. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Friday Anwar should provide the sample to prove his innocence. "He said he did not do anything, let's see," Abdullah told reporters. "The result which could prove that he did not do it. That's the way we want to handle it." One of his lawyers said Anwar had given details of his alibi to the police. "He has given all the information to police. Details of witnesses have been provided. The full details of the alibi all have been given but I'm not at liberty to discuss it here," Sivarasa Rasiah told reporters. He said Anwar feared his DNA sample could be tampered with since his accuser, 23-year-old Saiful Bukhari Azlan, has been in police protection since he lodged the complaint on June 28. "Our main concern is the fact that Saiful has been in police custody since June 28 and the police have Anwar's (previous) DNA in their possession," Sivarasa said. He said Anwar might consider giving his DNA sample to the police if Saiful's DNA tests were independently verified. Anwar, a former deputy premier, is leading the charge by the opposition to oust the government at a time when the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, which has led Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957, is facing its worst crisis in 50 years. The sodomy charges against Anwar, lodged by a former aide, mirrors events in 1998 when his rise was halted by a jail term for sodomy and corruption. The supreme court overturned the sodomy conviction six years later. Anwar spent a night in police custody earlier this week and has been released on bail. He told reporters on Thursday that he was questioned for five-and-half hours and was also strip-searched. Police have not charged Anwar. Sivarasa said Anwar would fight any legal attempts by the police. "Under our laws, we cannot force a person to give a blood sample. And if an application is made to court, given the present circumstances we will resist it for all the concerns that we've already expressed," he said. Sodomy, even between consenting adults, is regarded as a "heinous crime" and is punishable by up to 20 years in prison in mainly Muslim Malaysia. The Anwar saga, part of a drawn-out political drama, has hurt financial markets with investors fearing a sudden change of government and economic policy. (Reporting by Loh Li Lian and Soo Ai Peng; Writing by Jalil Hamid; Editing by Alex Richardson) ...source

Malaysian Anwar in 'sodomy alibi'

Malaysian Anwar in 'sodomy alibi' Friday, 18 July 2008 - BBC Malaysia's opposition leader has told the BBC that he has an alibi for "every minute" of the day when he is accused of sodomy with a former male aide. Anwar Ibrahim was released on bail on Thursday after being held for 21 hours. He refused to give a DNA sample, saying it could be manipulated to frame him. Mr Anwar says he is the victim of a personal vendetta, and has called the allegation "complete fabrication". Sodomy is a crime in Malaysia, punishable by 20 years' imprisonment. Mr Anwar, 60, has always strenuously denied the claim, made by a 23-year-old former aide at the end of June. He told the BBC's Robin Brant that there was no case because there was no evidence. "You must establish a case. A case that is considered to be at least with some grounds in order to proceed. But here the case is not established," Mr Anwar said. "We are clear, absolutely clear on the alibi, every single minute of the day." Mr Anwar says the allegation is a set-up - a repeat of similar claims 10 years ago for which he was sacked from his post as deputy prime minister, tried and jailed. Malaysia's Supreme Court eventually overturned the sodomy conviction against Mr Anwar and he was released in 2004 after he had served six years. He had always strongly denied the claims, calling them a smear campaign. Public anger Mr Anwar says the current allegation is aimed at thwarting his popular opposition movement, which made unprecedented gains in the general election in March. The sodomy accusation came only weeks after Mr Anwar said he was in a position to launch a challenge to the ruling coalition, with the help of government defectors. Mr Anwar is preparing to address supporters of his three-party opposition alliance at a series of rallies this weekend. He has ordered his supporters - who had pledged to protest - to "stay cool" but, he said, if he was charged and a trial followed he might not be able to contain public anger. The Prime Minister, Abdullah Badawi, remains under intense pressure to resign over poor election results and high fuel prices. He has said he will leave office in 2010. ...source

Let cops decide, so shut up Pak Lah!

Let cops decide, so shut up Pak Lah! Jul 19, 2008 - Malaysiakini Karpal Singh has warned Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his ministers not to volunteer unsolicited comments that may compromise police investigations into PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s alleged sodomy offence. The DAP chairperson said in a statement today that he was shocked by Pak Lah's challenge to Anwar to prove his innocence in this controversial allegation by giving his DNA sample. “It is elementary that under our system of law, it is not the PM who considers the result of an investigation but the police who are required to put up investigation papers to the Attorney-General. “It is wrong for the PM to publicly challenge Anwar to disprove the allegation of sodomy against him. “The PM should hold his piece and not publicly direct and influence police investigation,” he said. ...more

PM, are you involved in the Anwar investigations?

PM, are you involved in the Anwar investigations? July 18, 2008 - CHARLES HECTOR Saiful made a police report allegedly stating that Anwar sodomized him - but then nobody seem to know what that police report says...what really is the content of the report remains a mystery to most, save the police, the complainant(and maybe Khairy, Syed Hamid and the PM). The WHY is worrying. The fact that Anwar is not even provided the alleged police report makes it really odd - a police report (and this the First Information Report). The media seem to have gone to town stating that report alleges that Saiful was sodomized by Anwar - but what is the source? Did they see the report themselves? Did the police or Saiful tell the media? (I do not recollect really - matters not now anymore..) Anwar(and/or others) who have or are going to be called in should at the very least have had access to this report, the basis for the commencement of the investigation. Remember, we are not talking about the more detailed statement that the police will usually record from the complainant. We are talking about just the police report..) It is a police investigation -- and it is shocking that BN MPs (including the son in law of the premier), Ministers and the now the Prime Minisiter is getting involved in what should be just a POLICE Investigation... The authorities require a fresh DNA sample from Anwar Ibrahim because the sample extracted 10 years ago is too old, said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today. "So we are asking for a new sample," he told a press conference in Putrajaya. - Malaysiakini, 18/7/2008 , Existing DNA sample too old, says PM So, WE are asking ....not the police are asking but "we are asking..." - this is getting really odd, and now it looks like good old Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has joint the police investigation team --maybe will also be part of the prosecution -- and maybe even the Judge indirectly ... Come on Mr Prime Minister, you just stepped over the line - and this just supports even more that 'conspiracy theory' that seems to be developing.... We all do not know the facts -- even what really has been alleged by the said Saiful person..., but let me just be hypothetical... and maybe even make some suggestions as to how we can move forward and satisfy the concerns/fears of all concerned. a) First, there must be immediate disclosure and access to the police report of the said complainant. b) Second, there must be an immediate taking of another statement from the said Saiful as to what really happened not by the police (which would have been done by now) - but maybe by a Magistrate/Judge - something in the nature of a deposition in court. What I mean, is that it must be a statement recorded in court, also in the presence of the lawyers of the said Anwar... and locked away in some 'court-safe' so that it cannot be changed later. (Maybe, there should also be video with audio recording also done, and the recorded tape/disc should immediately be handed over to court for safe-keeping.) If court is a problem, maybe the Bar Council (or even SUHAKAM) could assist here.. This will prevent allegations of later changing of the story/statement based on the 'evidence that were manufactured to get Anwar' (for that seems to be the Anwar's concern/fear) c) Third, it must be disclosed the actual nature of the sodomy - and whether there is any medical evidence that supports the claim made by the complainant... (and if there are no direct evidence, whether there are some circumstantial evidence at least...) d) Since they measured Anwar's private parts, let's assume that his private parts are involved... - Gone now is the ability for the defence to ask Saiful about that tattoo or that birth-mark (or absence of it) on the private parts of the suspect/accussed -- and then demonstrate the opposite is true hence shattering the credibility of the complainant - Gone too the weight and the strength of the testimony of the complainant describing accurately the markings on the private parts (for after all, you who saw when examination and measurement was done can tell the complainant) e) Next, were there any semen or body fluids (DNA) of another found on/in the body of the complainant, or on the bed or at the alleged place of the said crime? If yes, can we isolate these samples now, do the necessary DNA tests and provide the results immediately to Anwar (and/or his lawyers) first.. and to the court (or some independent body like the Bar Council, maybe) for safekeeping. WHY? The concern of Anwar seems to be, that if I give you my sample now, you will use it ...maybe place it here (and there), maybe on some mattress, etc.... so, if what is proposed is done first before the taking of any new DNA sample from Anwar, then what is feared would not be able to be done easily(or would it still be) After all, Anwar's DNA sample cannot change - and, later when he gives it, and it is analyzed, we will all be able to see if it matches with what was found... (If it matches, then things would not be looking too good for Anwar, would it now?...) If this was done, I believe Anwar's concern may be put to rest - and the police would also be able to verify quickly whether Anwar's DNA matches with the samples they found on/in the person of the complainant/bed/place where the alleged incident took place..END of STORY. I believe, what has been suggested would work.... but then, it is merely a suggestion... I am also rather about perturbed about this calling for the taking of DNA sample - coming from Khairy Jamaludin (PM's son-in-law), Syed Hamid (the Home Minister).....and now the Prime Minister. But the question that the police must answer first, is whether there were body fluids of a third party found on/in the complainant, the bed or the place the crime is alleged to have taken place - for if there was none, then all this hoo-hah about DNA is not just a waste of time, and also will be a 'torture' of Anwar Ibrahim. The way, Khairy, Syed and Abdullah are asking for DNA samples, it looks like they may have seen (or do know) the contents of the police report... A commotion occurred during the Dewan Rakyat sitting today when Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) asked Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to give his DNA sample to the police to assist in the investigation into the allegation of sodomy against him. “We can’t force anyone to give their DNA sample (but) if he (Anwar) is not afraid of the truth, I hope he (Anwar) will be present (at the Kuala Lumpur Police Headquarters), and if he dares, give the DNA sample to test whether the police report was correct or wrong. - New Straits Times Online, 16/7/2008 -Commotion in Dewan Rakyat when Khairy asks Anwar to give DNA sample Mr Syed Hamid criticised Mr Anwar for not giving a blood sample, saying that if he was interested in determining the truth, "simply give the DNA and let the experts read the DNA". - new.com.au, 17/7/2008, -It's a vendetta, says Anwar But then, what an expert said about DNA should also be taken into consideration. Well preserved body fluids from the last time could still be used...And really, it is not that difficult getting body fluids, is it not?? "Saliva, blood and seminal stains when stored in proper conditions can be preserved - by not exposing the sample to rain, sunlight and other natural elements," he told Malaysiakini. "It could be kept at room temperature like in a cupboard," he added. - Malaysiakini, 18/7/2008, Expert: Specimen can be conserved for years All kinds of allegations are floating around about Anwar and Sodomy BUT most Malaysians really want to know the TRUTH...the whole truth and nothing but the truth... Many Malaysians also hope that all this will go away very fast because it distracts all of us from the more real issues affecting the people - the price hikes, the increased prices -- and the growing suffering of the people. So, Mr Policeman, do your job professionally... and Mr. PM, Mr. Ministers, YBs, YABs just let the police get on with their job... YAB Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - be reminded that you are not part of the investigation team, and there is no need for you to speak for the police....OR am I wrong - for you really are "head" of this Police Investigation involving Anwar Ibrahim, the one who boasted that he will oust you as PM come September 16...? ...source

Counselling for The Sodomized

Sodomized Malaysians Are A Lucky Lot Posted by Vineeth Menon 18 July 2008 - Malaysia Today It seems that Malaysia has now officially secured another world-class record. We are the first country in the world where victims of sodomy can get the personal attention and sympathy of the top two government officials, namely the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. We are all no doubt aware that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak granted an audience to poor little Saiful Bukhari, at Najib's private home no less. (Let's ignore the little fact that Najib lied about this encounter in a denial only several days prior to his admisison to playing a role as sodomy counsellor). Najib has even gone on record detailing his innate skills as a sodomy counsellor and part-time trauma psychologist by telling the world that he could assess Saiful as telling the truth because Saiful's hands were cold and shaking. Kudos to Najib! We are certainly a country blessed by such a sensitive DPM. But we cannot give all the credit to Najib, because he learned this valuable skill from another: his old mentor and former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir bin Mohammad. It seems that Mahathir bin Mohammad was not only a top-notch Prime Minister and a medical doctor, but he was also a rape counsellor, specifically for sodomy. In the middle of the Asian Financial Crisis of the mid-90's, the good doctor managed to find the time to personally meet up with, not one, but TWO victims of buggery. As quoted in Mahathir's own cyber-extension of his (self-admitted) big mouth: HERE " 7. Is the present complainant a copycat? Hardly likely. Few would care to make public such a very shameful thing as being sodomised. In fact, the last time at least two people came to see me claiming they were sodomised by Anwar. But they were unwilling to make a report or be witnesses in court. One of them, however, did see the imam of Masjid Negara (now Member of Parliament for PAS), to seek advise on the religious angle.'" How nice! Victims of sodomy in Malaysia do not report to the police, nor seek medical treatment for a ripped anal spinchter or undergo tests for Sexually Transmitted Diseases, but they go straight to Mahatir bin Mohammad and Najib Razak to complain about their misfortune. And these two good men, take time out of their busy schedules of running the country into the ground, to tend to the complaints of sodomy victims. How heartening! But let's dispense with the bullshit already! In his blog, Mahathir also goes on the defensive by claiming the probability of the allegation against Anwar is true because it is unlikely that the government will use the same allegation twice. Hey, Mahathir....GOTCHA!! That type of desperate statement can only come from somebody who is desperately trying to salvage a political conspiracy that is fast going down the spinchter. This statement by Mahathir comes hot on the heels of several polls that indicate about 99% of Malaysians (including UMNO supporters) do not believe the allegation against Anwar...with the remaining 1% coming from supporters of Mahathir and Najib, as well as the population of brain-damaged individuals (which are often one and the same). I think it will also surprise nobody that this silly conspiracy against Anwar Ibrahim only surfaces not very long after Mahathir bin Mohammad met up with his sodomy counsellor protege Najib Razak. As many are aware, the person with the most to lose from Anwar coming into power is Mahathir bin Mohammad. Not the cronies or the slimy UMNO politicians, because when push comes to shove, these guys will find other ways to adapt and leech off the system. But Mahathir faces the possibility of serious investigation for possible wrongdoings during his 22-year tenure, starting with (but not necessarily limited to) the Korek Kronicles Saga of VK Linggam. It is therefore no surprise that following the March 8 elections, Mahathir has been running around like a desperate chicken who realizes he is destined for Colonel Sanders' crockpot. And it is also no surprise, that Mahathir seems to be positioning himself as the number #1 snakeoil salesman of justifications for why these allegations this time are true. And in this comedic mix, Mahathir has been blowing hot and cold about his sodomy consellor protege, trying to throw everyone off the scent (or is it stench) of him being the mastermind behind Najib. All a big stale sandiwara of a "rift" between the mastermind and his sodomy counsellor protege. While this sandiwara plays out, I would strongly encourage all victims of rape in Malaysia, especially of buggery and sodomy, to make a beeline to Mahathir's and Najib's offices. It seems you may be able to get your cases resolved sooner rather than relying on the police, who are currently very busy on a large-scale bribe collection exerci....oops, I mean manning roadblocks all over the country. by V for Vernon ...source

What Are They Afraid Of?

What is Syed Hamid Albar afraid of? 18 July 2008 - Aliran In a rhetorical stance, the Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar posed this question to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, “What is he afraid of?” Aliran would like to pose this very question to Syed Hamid, “What is he afraid of?” Why are they afraid to release the police report lodged by Mohd Saiful Bukari Azlan against Anwar Ibrahim on 28 June alleging sodomy? Syed Hamid is quoted by the New Straits Times as saying, “Give blood sample for the sake of truth.” Aliran would like to tell Syed Hamid, “Give the police report for the sake of justice.” Justice demands that an accused person should know what he is being accused of. Only then he can defend himself. It is ridiculous for the police to claim that Saiful had made a police report against Anwar and therefore they have to investigate Anwar. Isn’t Anwar entitled to know the nature of the report? He has a right to know when the alleged offence took place and where. This information is crucial for Anwar’s rebuttal. If Syed Hamid is wondering why this information is urgent and necessary, Aliran would like to take him back ten years ago when a similar report of sodomy was lodged against Anwar. His accuser then struggled to name a date to make the allegation stick. He gave three different dates variously, including a date when the building where the alleged sodomy was deemed to have taken place was not even up! The accuser contradicted himself several times. He was even caught for khalwat, raising questions regarding his morality and reliability. The injustice was so apparent in that episode of a decade ago that the Federal Court overturned the High Court’s controversial conviction. Based on this experience, Anwar has every right to suspect that the police want to get as much information as possible from him so that the police report against him could be manipulated to incriminate him. Anwar had legitimately asked, “Is it so that they can keep amending and amending and amending it to fit in with the statement that I have just given to the police. I gave my statement for five hours yesterday (Wednesday) and for another 30 minutes this morning.” He has raised a relevant and pertinent point: "If they give the report to me now, how am I supposed to know that it is the original? Are they waiting to make up the 'perfect' police report (to fix me)?" The police report was inexplicably denied every time it was requested for on the premise that the police had been instructed against giving him a copy. Who is this faceless and nameless superior officer who had given this despicable instruction? If they are after the truth, shouldn’t they have released the police report so that Anwar himself would be in a position to assist the police in discovering the truth? Do they realise that by refusing to release the report, the police are seen as believing Saiful’s side of the story and suspecting Anwar of being guilty? Where is the fairness? Both the accuser and the accused should be treated fairly and justly so that the truth can be laid bare in the interest of justice. It is three weeks since the police report was made by Saiful. Why is it so difficult to make the report available to Anwar? Anwar has insinuated that both the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General, who have been accused of having manipulated the evidence against Anwar in the past, could be the source and cause for Anwar’s predicament in this instance. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had commented that Anwar should be accorded ‘the degree of decorum and respect he deserves’. Would he, having said that, now go the extra mile by instructing the police to release the police report to Anwar. If he does that, he would be walking the talk. P Ramakrishnan President 18 July 2008 ...source

Intimidation of lawyers

After the recent intimidating arrest of Anwar on 16 July, it has been revealed that the police have also called in lawyers in relation to the case of P Balasubramaniam, the private investigator who has gone missing after releasing two contradictory statutory declarations.

This is undisguised intimidation as they know full well that the lawyers cannot reveal any confidential communications between them and their clients. One of the lawyers who was questioned is M Puravalen who was Abdul Razak Baginda's first lawyer in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case.

Video - PI case: Lawyers quizzed, Bar concerned

Anwar Provides Alibi to Police

If Anwar has already given details of his alibi to the police during questioning why is there still a need to provide DNA samples?

Lawyer: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim provides alibi to police in sodomy case July 18, 2008 - IHT KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has provided an alibi to police to prove he did not sodomize a male aide but will not give a DNA sample for fear it could be manipulated to frame him, his lawyer said Friday. DNA evidence was fabricated when Anwar was similarly accused of sodomy 10 years ago, and he does not trust the police not to do it again, his lawyer, Sivarasa Rasiah, said. The new sodomy accusation against Anwar comes as the government is faced with growing public anger with the ruling coalition, which suffered election losses in March to a resurgent opposition. Anwar has vowed to build on that victory and topple the government in September. He was arrested on Wednesday and interrogated for hours over the accusation by a young male aide who claimed to be a victim of sodomy. Anwar was released Thursday on bail, but remains a suspect in the case. Sodomy, even between consenting adults, is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. During the interrogation Anwar gave "full details" of his alibi, Sivarasa said. "We have given it in full to the police. We know that they know everything that has to be known," he said, refusing to elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation. He said Anwar allowed himself to be stripped during a medical examination and even had his body parts measured. But he drew the line at giving a DNA swab, which he is not legally bound to do. "Anwar has even more reason to believe of the probability that DNA evidence will be fabricated again," Sivarasa said. He suggested if Anwar was to give a sample, it could be planted on the accuser, who is living under police supervision. The accusation by the 23-year-old aide was a political bombshell, dealing a severe blow to Anwar's resurgent three-party opposition alliance that won an unprecedented 82 seats in the 222-member Parliament in the March 8 elections. The result reduced the ruling National Front coalition's strength to 140 seats, down from the two-thirds majority it enjoyed for the last 41 years. Anwar now aims to engineer defections from the National Front to take over the government by September. He has dismissed the sodomy accusation as a political plot to stop him from toppling the government. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's ministers have denied any conspiracy against Anwar. On Thursday, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar challenged Anwar to give a DNA swab if he wants the truth to be known. "What is he afraid of? He can even have his own doctor present when the tests are carried out," he said. Anwar claims police fabricated evidence against him in the 1998 case when he was accused of having sex with his family driver. Anwar says he was framed by then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad during a power struggle. Malaysia's Supreme Court eventually overturned the sodomy conviction against Anwar, but by then he had served six years in prison on a related abuse of power charge. He was freed in 2004 and revived his political career as an opposition leader. Sivarasa said Anwar would consider giving a DNA sample if it can be "independently verified" that all procedures are "done professionally and without any interference from the police." He also questioned why the police report citing the aide has not been made public and "remains shrouded in secrecy." ...source

Gimme Your DNA

Khairy asked for it in Parliament on the day Anwar was arrested, the Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar also wants it and now the PM says a fresh sample must be given (NST 19 July 2008). Why are these politicians so interested in Anwar's DNA? Do they know something which most other Malaysians do not know?

Anwar do not have access to the police report lodged against him. But they want his DNA!

In a press statement, Sivarasa acting as lawyer for Anwar has this to say:

"Statements being made by senior government officials raise concerns as to the credible dispensation of the law, and suggest that a political conspiracy is very much at play in smearing the credibility and reputation of our client. They are making statements imputing that Anwar Ibrahim is not cooperating with the police."

Full statement below.

Press statement by Sivarasa on Anwar's Case Statements being made by senior government officials raise concerns as to the credible dispensation of the law, and suggest that a political conspiracy is very much at play in smearing the credibility and reputation of our client. They are making statements imputing that Anwar Ibrahim is not cooperating with the police. We are referring, as an example, to the comments made by Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar reported on the front page of the New Straits Times, page three of the Star and covered in other printed and electronic media. Syed Hamid should know better than to attempt to exert his influence on this matter. As a Cabinet Member, Syed Hamid’s comments are tantamount to interfering in an ongoing investigation. He is quoted as saying “What is he afraid of? He can have his own doctor present when giving the sample.” Besides being an inappropriate interference in the investigation, these comments show a fundamental misunderstanding of the concerns we are raising regarding the introduction of DNA evidence. In 1998-1999 trials, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim experienced the phenomenon of fabrication of DNA evidence. We had SAC Rodwan illegally removing DNA samples from forensic custody. In cross-examination of the prosecution’s witnesses it was exposed that DNA taken from blood samples was planted on the infamous mattress. When confronted with this fact the prosecution amended its charge and persuaded the judge, Augustine Paul, to expunge the entire DNA evidence from the record, preventing Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s lawyers from responding. The persons who were implicated in the fabrication of evidence during Dato Seri Anwar’s 1998-1999 trials, namely Gani Patail, Musa Hassan, and Rodwan are the same players who are involved in the current case. Today they are in much more powerful positions within the law enforcement apparatus. Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim has even more reason to believe of the probability that DNA evidence will be fabricated once again. This is reasonable because the complainant remains in police custody since 28 June 2008 and the police are also in possession of Anwar Ibrahim’s DNA from the earlier case. Our client’s concerns are therefore not resolved, as Syed Hamid believes, by his handing over a DNA sample through his own doctor or through an international forensic expert. It would have to be independently verified first that all medical examinations and sample taking relating to the complainant were done professionally and without any interference from the police before Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim will consider participating in any DNA analysis. ...source

Another Show Trial?

Are the recent events in Malaysia indicating that there will be another show trial to prevent Anwar from making a political comeback?

In the editorial from The Wall Street Journal Asia, the spectre of a repeat of the sham trial 10 years ago was raised, "Anwar's accuser — his former aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan — is under police protection. It's not a stretch to imagine Anwar's DNA finding its way onto his clothes as "evidence," as that's the tactic the police used back in 1998. Anwar wryly noted at a press conference yesterday that while stripped, the police measured his "necessary parts." Again, that kind of detail would be helpful in a show trial."

It went on to say, "But it's trust in the system itself that's lacking here. Given Anwar's treatment in the judicial system the last time around, it is difficult to believe he would get a fair trial. His arrest is likely to stimulate more support for his cause of a more democratic and free Malaysia."

Anwar's arrest adds to political risk Editorial from The Wall Street Journal Asia JULY 18 — The last time Malaysian democrat Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was prosecuted on a trumped-up sodomy charge, we wrote that the government's "crude measures will exact a heavy price in terms of lost credibility." Ten years later, Malaysia's current political leaders should take note. On Wednesday afternoon, Anwar was picked up by policemen in ski masks and hauled to police headquarters. He was interrogated for six hours, stripped and asked to supply a DNA sample — a request he refused. He spent the night on a concrete floor without furniture and was released on bail yesterday morning. Malaysian media report that the government is exploring ways to compel Anwar to give DNA. Anwar's accuser — his former aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan — is under police protection. It's not a stretch to imagine Anwar's DNA finding its way onto his clothes as "evidence," as that's the tactic the police used back in 1998. Anwar wryly noted at a press conference yesterday that while stripped, the police measured his "necessary parts." Again, that kind of detail would be helpful in a show trial. Ten years ago then-Deputy Prime Minister Anwar was falsely convicted of sodomy and jailed for six years. His conviction was overturned by the high court in 2004. A conviction for abuse of power stood, and Anwar did not become eligible for political office again until April. Today, he heads the country's political opposition and is on a path to the premiership. The same cast of characters from 1998 are in positions of influence today. The Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan, was the lead investigating officer into Anwar's 1998 case, and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail was the lead prosecutor. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak competed with Anwar for the leadership of Umno in the 1990s. Then, as now, Anwar's popularity is a threat to the deputy PM's political future. The government denies the prosecution is politically motivated. Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar called the arrest "not a political move," while others have suggested that Anwar has nothing to fear from a "fair" trial. Malaysia's state-run media have fallen into line, too. One headline in the New Straits Times reads: "Trust in the authorities needed to restore calm." But it's trust in the system itself that's lacking here. Given Anwar's treatment in the judicial system the last time around, it is difficult to believe he would get a fair trial. His arrest is likely to stimulate more support for his cause of a more democratic and free Malaysia. The government obtained a court order barring Anwar and the public from going within 5km of Parliament on Monday, the day he was planning to attend a key parliamentary debate. The arrest does more than smear Anwar's good name. It also throws a wrench into the young coalition that Anwar has carefully constructed. The three-party coalition, which includes an ethnic Chinese party and a Muslim party, came together in March elections on an anti-corruption, secular platform that called for more freedoms for all Malaysians. The opposition broke the ruling party's two-thirds parliamentary majority and won five of Malaysia's 13 states. It's now up to those parties to rally around Anwar's cause. The more they do so, the more support they'll receive from the public, which showed in March that they're fed up with corruption and politics as usual. Malaysia's democracy has come a long way since 1998, when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was Prime Minister. The current Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has introduced a number of reforms, including in the judiciary. Malaysia's democratic institutions — and Abdullah's credibility — are now threatened by his government's treatment of Anwar. ...source

Malaysians Are Angry

The following are some of the angry comments appearing in Malaysiakini which show how Malaysians feel about the sham arrest of Anwar.

'Police should've kept their word' Jul 18, 2008 - Malaysiakini ‘Irrespective of whatever information or feelings they may have, they should not have arrested Anwar before the deadline. Now, who will ever trust them in the future?’ On Cops rapped over 'incredible' excuse Little Scorpion: It goes to show that the police force does not honour their word. If the 2pm deadline has already been agreed upon (and Anwar's lawyer informed the police force an hour before the deadline that they will be arriving), then the police force should not arrest Anwar before the deadline but only after if he fails to arrive. Irrespective of whatever information or feelings they may have, the police force should honour their word, otherwise who will ever trust them in the future? This incident terrifies all Malaysians as to whether we can truly believe any statements made by the police force. I guess all Malaysians already have some degree of mistrust after the ‘black eye’ incident, and this recent incident only adds and confirms their previous mistrust. The police force is an authority - how can they behave like this? Stanley Tai: Perhaps this is what the Australia prime minister referred to as a 'vibrant democracy'! Givemelilberty: This is outrageous! First, the so-called deadline had not expired. The action of arrest should only be taken after the deadline. Second, and much more serious, Malaysia is now the laughing stock of the world. The alleged offence of sodomy does not warrant a group of twenty balaclava-clad commandos (UTK) in fifteen vehicles to accost DSAI. What ludicrous criterion did the PDRM use? If this is the strength needed to arrest someone on a sodomy charge, does this mean that for: Murder: one hundred commandos in fifty vehicles; Armed robbery: eighty commandos in forty vehicles; Rape: fifty commandos in thirty-five vehicles; and Shoplifting: four commandos in two vehicles? What nonsense! The CID director, IGP, home minister, and, of course, the prime minister should all resign. This is so disgraceful! Pure Sabahan: There was a judgment reported in the Malayan Law Journal in the 1980s. A high court judge rebuked a magistrate for issuing a warrant of arrest against Karpal Singh for failure to present himself to the police station to have his statement recorded because of his involvement in a public demonstration to save Bukit Cina in Malacca from being bulldozed to the ground. The high court judge revoked the warrant of arrest and ruled that if Karpal Singh could not go the police station, then the police should go to his office to record his statement. Only when neither alternative could not be achieved could the police complain to a magistrate, who should then issue a summon to Karpal Singh. Only when a summons is not obeyed, can a warrant of arrest be issued. It was also implied in the first few paragraphs of the judgment that the then attorney-general did not understand this basic law at all. My views on the arrest of Anwar Ibrahim are as follows: 1. The police did not understand any law at all; 2. The magistrate that issued the warrant of arrest did not read the law either; 3. The police did not honour any gentlemen's agreement; 4. The police team that executed the illegal and defective warrant of arrest looked more like terrorists than law enforcement agents; 5. The present attorney-general, like the previous one, did not properly advise the police in this episode. What is left to be discovered now is who in the contaminated judiciary will be honourable enough to uphold the law this time? D Chin: Our home minister, his deputy and the CID chief are one sad triumvirate. When will the government ever learn that this kind of intimidating conduct (especially by our law enforcement agencies) will not endear them to the populace, even Umno supporters? Why do these eminent personalities even try and justify what can only be perceived as severe poor judgment and bad faith? If a person has an appointment at 2pm, does it matter where he is or where he goes so long as he duly presents himself at the appointed time and place? Anyway, so what if Anwar was 15 minutes or even half-an-hour late. There is no need for the commando-type style of arresting him. Keep that for Hollywood or Bollywood. For goodness sake, Anwar is not an absconding terrorist suspect or a gangster. He was our DPM and is now the de facto opposition leader. Treat him with some decorum and respect and you won't find hundreds of his supporters brandishing flags and shouting reformasi outside the police HQ. I am sure when the police took Najib or Rosmah's statement on the Altantuya case, the investigating officer probably accorded them the respect of visiting them at their home or office. The foreign news services and human rights organisations are watching Malaysia. Don't feed them more grist for the mill. JKS: Syed Hamid said ‘There is no conspiracy as Anwar likes to point out.’ What does Syed Hamid know? This is the same clueless minister who cannot tell whether Hindraf chairperson's passport was revoked until he sneakily admitted recently that immigration department had indeed been instructed to revoke the passport (only not to carry out the revoke order, really?) He is the minister with the ‘intelligence’ to execute a Monday-morning traffic jam to stop a non-existent protest. This is the minister who apparently dreamed up the non-existent three-party meeting to plan the protest. Syed Hamid cannot be that dense. He is likely being misled by a rogue but powerful force within his ministry with extremely prejudicial thinking, or with a plot to humiliate the minister in the public. Either way, Syed Hamid needs to clean out his house. J Koay: The recent turmoil to the political scene in Malaysia is indeed being watched by the whole world. Let us not forget that the world knows the plan, motive and the expected conclusion to the present political scene. Is Anwar a threat to Malaysia or is our ruling government afraid of the eventual truth? One minute we read of something in the media, and the next minute something happens opposite to that. The law enforcement agencies must discharge their duties without fear or favour in order to gain the trust of the rakyat. KL Dude: The most ironical thing is that those in BN can coolly say that the arrest of Anwar was not politically motivated and the police are carrying out their duties in accordance with the law. What law do they mean? Jungle law? Here the person making the report, which is Saiful, is not even being detained at all for allowing himself to be sodomised, a reverse to what had happened in1998 to Sukma and Munawar. Here, the person making the police report, which is Saiful is protected and action is being taken against the alleged person in the report. Why such obvious blatant double standards? And the best part is they expect the rakyat to swallow all this and believe whatever they say in the mainstream media. Concerned Malaysian: I totally agree that it is time now for Malaysians to speak out against the authoritarian role played by the BN and the ‘mafia- type role played by the police. Anwar is being treated like a world renowned terrorist while there are loads of unsolved criminal cases. What is the meaning of all this? When are they (PDRM) going to draw the line between serving the public and serving BN? It is not fair that we have to be a BN supporter to get the immediate attention and service of the PDRM. Let us as Malaysians start a peaceful campaign of show our loss of confidence in the PDRM by having a petition calling for PDRM to get themselves out of politics and start building confidence by honestly serving the people. Let us gather a million or more signatures to show the government that we - as Malaysians - demand and expect a unbiased and fair police. Dominic Henry Chin: Anwar is suspected of having anal sex, therefore he is the accused and now being treated like the guilty suspect. Saiful reported the matter and therefore admitted to having anal sex, and that has been allegedly confirmed by a medical examination done at HKL. Why is he then the victim, when in fact he has already been proven as the guilty party engaging in anal sex? Muthusamy Alagan: The arresting of Anwar before the given time shows that the Malaysian police force is not matured enough compared to that of the small neighbouring country. This is what will happen if the police force is acting on civilian advice. Poor police. Shame on you. Jude Manickam: For all their denials, the police have just proved that this is not just another normal investigation. The lightning speed with which they moved and they way they used the Special Squad to force Anwar to the police station all smacks of a bigger conspiracy - a repeat of the 1998 fiasco. No matter how much Najib and Musa Hassan continue denying, the people have seen and understand what is happening. They, however, are still in denial mode, as they forever will be. It's time for all Malaysians to come out and support Truth, Justice and Freedom. And get rid of the useless. Save Malaysia. Now. Dr Su: I am totally blown away by the Malaysian police and the ruling party politicians. They make me ashamed to be Malaysian because they make us the laughing stock of South East Asia. Why is this ridiculous circus happening? Balaclava masks? Fifteen patrol cars? What arrest protocol are they following? Why the 'special' treatment? Richard: Why do they need so many police personnel to arrest only one person, and to the extent of wearing balaclava? It is downright despicable of the police to treat DSAI, like he was a big and notorious terrorist. Very Sad Malaysian: All Malaysians are deeply saddened and angered by Anwar's arrest. I suggest we tell our leaders in power how we feel by honking all our cars in the street for five minutes at midnight the day next time Anwar is arrested again. The BN government needs to know that they will not get away with this when we go to the polls again in four or five years’ time. Michael Sun: Just like many Malaysians, I am also appalled by the high-handedness of the government and the police. The CID chief is right by saying they are following procedures and they have power to do it. Sad to say, the powers-that-be do not understand that power must be exercised judiciously. In this case, Anwar was supposed to meet the police at 2pm, but he was arrested one hour earlier. This is indeed mala fide. Secondly, the blatant show of force is utterly unnecessary. There are many sodomy cases reported to the police, and if the police showed the same amount of zeal and dedication, more crimes would have been solved. The very fact that Anwar has lodged a police report against the IGP and AG itself would ‘create a conflict of interests’ of the parties involved. To Joe Public, this is nothing more than a vendetta. Thirdly, we have all wondered why the UK police chief is called ‘commissioner’ and an IGP. It is because a commissioner reports to the Queen while the an IGP report to the PM. Here lies the danger of abuse of power by the PM. Fourthly, the BN federal government have shot themselves in the foot in the court of public opinion with both the heavy police roadblocks last Monday at Parliament and now this. CH Siew: I think it is ridiculous. Do they need fifteen police cars and special task force men just to arrest one sixty-year-old man with a bad back? Sounds like overkill to me. A tourist watching the whole operation would not be blamed if he got the impression that the police were going to arrest a highly dangerous and armed wanted criminal. Now they want to charge him with sodomy. It is incredible that an old man would be able to single-handedly sodomise a strapping young man not just once, but over a period of time. It begs disbelief. And why did Saiful not complain earlier, only now when Anwar is claiming that he can form a new government by mid-September? Besides, I think the demeanour of Saiful does not look like someone who have been sexually abused, but like someone who is very confident and heroic because he is able to floor Anwar with his accusations. I think everybody is very eager and keen to know what his reasons are and who is behind him in bringing Anwar down with his accusations. Anyway, I do not care about Anwar's sexual inclinations, whatever it may be, as I firmly believe that it is his own personal matter, and is between him and his family. So long as Anwar is able to come to power; is able to rule firmly, fairly and in a transparent manner in order to rid the country of corrupted officials who are only interested in lining their own pockets; and practice meritocracy so that every citizen will be accepted and treated according to their own merit, regardless of racial origin and personal connections, I will gladly accept him as the next PM of Malaysia Farmer Kumar: Why fifteen petrol cars for a single man without a fire arm? It’s a clear picture that if you are against the government, you will be in a mess. Is anybody daring enough to challenge the government? That is the old proverb. That's the message they want to send to the nation. In today's world, the nation and people are well-informed by technology. People are aware and strong, and dare to ask questions concerning the government. Today’s proverb: ‘Is the government daring enough to challenge the people?’ In last Tuesday’s debate, Anwar Ibrahim pointed out the fuel prices of nation and the poor management of the country's economy. Today the government proved to the nation that management of the country and the economy is poor with the simple example of sending fifteen patrol cars and the police force for a single unarmed man. Lilian Tan: The unnecessary show of force sent to arrest DSAI is truly laughable. By dispatching fifteen police cars, were the police trying to make us believe that a sixty-year-old man with a bad back might be strong enough to resist a ‘normal’ arrest? Or could it be that the police were afraid, very afraid? Perhaps they are afraid because they know that there is no basis for the arrest and the public knows this, hence they needed to put on a big show of bravado to quell their fears and intimidate the public. If this is the case, the disproportionate number of police cars for this one arrest only serves to confirm to Malaysia and the world the enormous threat that Anwar Ibrahim poses to the police and the tottering government of this country. So never mind what the prime minister or any member of his cabinet has said about their non- involvement in Anwar's arrest and that everything being business as usual – their ‘irrational’ action tells us otherwise. Kanagaretnam Ganesh: If I were the police I would have covered my face too. Who wouldn’t be ashamed at what they did to one man? I would like to know what further investigations took place from the time he was brought back from HKL until the time of his release. Ten to one nothing, he was kept to show. ‘See what we can do?’. Upset: Unless our law enforcement agencies stay neutral in the current political situation, they will lose the confidence of the public in their efforts to carry out their duties. The overzealousness in putting up roadblocks in all over the city on the flimsy excuses of national security and the arrest of Anwar even before he violated his promise to turn up at the police headquarters for questioning only confirm the public opinion that the police are nothing more than lackeys of the government. In the court of public opinion, they seem in a hurry to arrest and prosecute anyone who is identified as a part of the opposition, or anyone who is a whistle-blower against the wrong-doings of high officials in the government. Abdullah Badawi's effort to portray himself as stepping up his efforts to fight corruption and reforming the judiciary is nothing more than lip service to the nation. Yes, they detained some immigration bigwigs to show they were serious. Big deal. Catch us some big Umno fish and we will believe. After all, if he is really serious in his efforts to fight corruption, I believe our jail would be full of Barisan Nasional politicians. It doesn't really matter now what they can come up with to prove that Anwar is guilty of the charges they are throwing at him, because in the court of public opinion, their case is already lost. Perhaps the BN government thinks that five years from now we will all forget this episode and give them our votes, but I for one will vote in a tree if I have to, so long as it is not for Barisan Nasional. Alan Sham: I believe that most Malaysian people while agree that no one is above the law, but the way the authorities handled Anwar’s arrest was unwarranted and they have over reacted. There is no need to send in fifteen cars loaded of commandos in full masks to do such an arrest. This will only give the wrong idea that Anwar is more threatening than a terrorist. While the US and Japan should not be involved, this highhanded way of doing things has just shown that the authorities apply different standards for those who rule and those who are ruled. Meng Chai: The government may not realise that in the recent display of high anded tactics, they are in fact losing the rakyat's confidence. They are digging their own graves, and this short- sightedness will haunt them in the next election. The PM has two years, and in this critical situation, no words from his mouth to ease the situation. Why do we need him then? All the goonies are talking while he plays the Goodie Two Shoes Man and letting them be the scapegoats. He should be in the debate with Anwar instead of Shabery. They choose a junior minister to debate with an ex-DPM? He the PM is running away from his responsibilities. Why no investigation on the UN Food-for-Oil scandal? Why no actions to the SD from RPK? We will not get the answers, for we already know the answers. Berang Giler: The manner in which the order was brought earlier to DSAI’s daughters was most despicable. Were the police and the special branch force so uninformed that they were not aware that DSAI and his wife were not at home? Or were they trying to build up a case against DSAI to justify evil actions that they are planning to carry out against him? This new arrest episode is the world’s biggest joke of the year. The Malaysian police had to galvanise fifteen police cars and a team of masked men, dangerously armed, to arrest an unarmed, sixty-one-year-old man. I wonder how foreigners are looking at us now. If I were overseas, I would probably be too embarrassed and pretend that I am a not Malaysian. This whole episode is utterly shameful, and this is not the first time. If Pak Lah still has honour and wants to save whatever good that remains of the BN government, he should take immediate actions to sack Musa Hassan and the commanding officer who was responsible for organising the entire funfair. This beloved country is not sliding towards an authoritarian government. It appears that we might already be living in an authoritarian police state. An Unhappy Citizen: The chain of events happening now is enough to smear Anwar's credibility. BN (aka Umno) is getting desperate and trying everything to remain in power. Look at headlines of the MSM newspapers: ‘Anwar arrested’ on their front pages. If Anwar had voluntarily went to police station, then today there would be no news. The police acted professionally, the CID chief claimed. I'd rather say let the people be the judge of that. And when a person is being forcefully taken, anything can happen. It is highly possible that DNA samples or other samples could be forcefully taken from Anwar and later used as evidence against him. I don't think you can rule out this possibility. And how in the world does Khairy know about the DNA samples? Is it by coincidence? All of this sounds very fishy. How can we be convinced the government is not behind this? I'm kind of surprised that our prime minister is keeping mum on all these events. It's sad that current government is not focussed on solving the current problems at hand, but using all of its resources to suppress Anwar Ibrahim. John Tan: Putting aside the events or reasons for the arrest of DSAI, what is most appalling is the manner in which the arrest was made. Cloudie: The letter from the police clearly stated that DSAI was to report to police headquarters by 2pm. The police could have kept DSAI under surveillance and have him arrested after 2pm if he did not turn up. Moreover, why did they need fifteen patrol cars to escort him? DSAI is just an opposition leader, the police acted like they were striking at a gang of heavily armed robbers. As far as I’m concerned, the police have been acting badly, and the chief police who gave these instructions is clearly unprofessional. No wonder our country’s crime rate is getting higher and higher. Joe Chong: It is a very common thing for PDRM to take immediate action on those who are standing in BN's path, as they are the Malaysian-controlling body. However, the manner of execution of the action was not appropriate. Let justice prevail, rather than be too enthusiastic to act before a given time. Law enforcers must lead by example, rather than saying one thing and doing another. They should give due respect to every human in the world, without exception. Respect and be respected. No amount of good will come without it. Before executing an arrest, view the victim as your brother, not your enemy, and then act according to law. Let no hatred stand in the way when making a professional arrest. Let the Almighty be the judge, not humans. G-man: I guess once again the 'efficiency' of the Royal Malaysian Police was clear for all to see when fifteen vehicles and armed officers were sent to apprehend a sixty-year-old man with a bad back. And the reason given was they were made to 'believe' that he would not make his 2pm appointment with the police. I wish the same gusto and drive is shown in reducing the already spiralling crime rate. Anyway all of these actions have done nothing but reinforce the sheer incompetence of our police force and how biassed they can be. ‘Serving the people’ they say - more like serving themselves and their political masters. The government also fails to realise how all of this makes them look in the eyes of the rakyat. If they don't see this now, I doubt they ever will. http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/86331