Events in 1998-1999, even if true, are past. One needs to rake them up only if they are helpful to defend against accusations and charges. DSAI is however already a free man having obtained acquittal in 2004. The Lingam clip enquiry also established the judiciary bias against him at that point of time. So instead of seeking closure as far as that episode concerned and moving forward, why does he now rake past events up against the two highest law enforcement officers (IGP or AG) based allegedly on dossier in his possession?

One theory is to pre-emtively tarnish the legitimacy of entire administration of justice and law enforcement so that whatever arrest for charges that may be brought against him, even if supported by convincing evidence, will be rejected as illegitimate in the Court of Public Opinion.

Indirectly he is drawing a line in the sand – and asking supporters to follow as well – that law and the requirements of law need not be followed as their enforcement emanates from an illegitimate source.

To resist the law he seeks sanctuary in Turkish Embassy which is near enough to issue his orders for his struggle against the BN and yet far enough not to be arrested.

There is then a need to justify then why he seeks refuge ‘indefinitely’ in the Turkish Embassy, and the best reason is death threats and assassination and the convenience of explaining it on basis that PDRM could not protect him based on the line already drawn above. Frankly Raja Petra has more cause to hide in the Turkish Embassy but does not!

For Pakatan Rakyat and all who support PR, this poses a dilemma.

He may be encouraging all to take to the streets reformasi style on grounds that the law and its process are illegitimate.

This is a very dangerous course arguably not good for the nation.

It is different from the earlier course charted for Opposition after spectacular gains of 8th March – ie run the state governments properly and if possible canvass defections from BN’s side all within parameters of the law……

You may want to reflect why he raises the stakes and up the ante in another manner.

After all the Lingam Video clip enquiry has made many not believe in the charges brought against him in Dr Mahathir’s years. The political tsunami of 3rd March itself evinced that huge sections of people don’t believe in BN anymore.

In this milieu of widespread distrust by large sections of public in respect to whatever the BN claims, why should everything about the Opposition struggle instantly change (by police report lodged against IGP & AG, disclosure of death threats and seeking sanctuary in Turkish Embassy ie drawing a line in the sand against legitimacy of law) raising the spectre of political stand off and street confrontation with law enforcement authorities just because of some BN’s ‘mole’ lodging last Sat a police report, especially if were true, as DSAI would tell us and have us think, that the accusation is entirely baseless and fabricated? Where is the proof?

Where does Pakatan Ralyat go from here – the DAP & PAS in particular? We more or less know Parti KeAdilan Rakyat’s stand.

Malaysiakini has just reported that

(1) “PKR’s de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim this morning filed a defamation suit against his aide over claims of sodomy…In the suit which was filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court registry in Jalan Duta, Anwar also claimed that the police report lodged by Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan was an abuse of the process of law”.
(2) “Meanwhile the party also said that it had postponed its plans to lodge a police report against police chief Musa Hassan and attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail over their alleged misconduct during Anwar Ibrahim’s trials in 1998-1999.”

I am happy that wiser counsel prevails, I am in total agreement that the above (1) and (2) is the correct thing to do which re-directs PKR and its supporters away from the other course of direct confrontation against law enforcement.

Malaysiakini further reported Anwar said “I need categorical assurance on my safety. Sure, if they give me an assurance for my safety today I will leave the embassy today…!”

This is the best & wisest and correct thing Anwar ever said in these few days.

There is no business on part of PDRM not to give such an assurance, and for sake of the country, it should straightaway give the assurance to pave the way for Anwar to retract and leave the embassy. Esp so when Party KeAdilan Rakyat had also said that it had postponed its plans to lodge a police report against IGP & AG over their alleged misconduct during Anwar Ibrahim’s trials in 1998-1999.

This will bring matters back to normalcy, the situation before Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan lodged report.

Since the contents of report are according to Anwar fabricated and untrue why over react?

Anwar is absolutely right to back track on and reverse on 2 steps taken earlier in the immediate wake of Saiful’s report:-

1. to lodge report against IGP/AG on events way past in 1998/99 of which closure already obtained by his 2004 acquittal;

2. seeking refuge in Turkish Embassy ostensibly on grounds of threats to his life.

This is because 1. & 2. draw a line in the sand against legitimacy of law enforcement which will bring PR supporters eventually to point of standoff and confrontation with forces of law enforcement reformasi style, breaking the peace.

Secondly if Saiful’s allegations were a fabrication without basis, as Anwar says they are, then a simple defamation/libel suit in accordance with law will suffice to discredit it, there being no need for Anwar to raise the stakes for a standoff and up-the-ante by 1. and 2.

Otherwise the unnecessary pursuing of 1. and 2. in response to Saiful’s allegations will constitute an over reaction on Anwar’s part disproportionate to the gravity of the situation that the lodgment of a ‘fabricated’ report poses which will most definitely achieve opposite effect of lending credence to Saiful’s allegations and the negative inference drawn against Anwar himself of probable guilt.

Thus Anwar’s reversal of his initial over-reaction in 1. and 2. will bring matters back to normalcy and not affect Pakatan Rakyat’s continued struggle (within parameters of the law of running the state govt and canvassing for lawful crossovers), which otherwise will most severely be compromised, if it leads to street fighting and giving justification of ban of the Opposition parties.

People should have some decency even in dirty politics. Bring up Criminal Breach of Trust (CBT) as in cheating public monies or cheating on electoral rules or even murder as a benchmark as to whether to disqualify a person as fit and proper to hold public office. Don’t resort to innuendoes and allegations, true or not true, about political opponent’s personal and private sexual lives, whether active or passive, regular or deviant, what has that got to do with his vision and capability as a political leader??? It is only a sex obessesed and also likely repressed society that pays disproportionate interest on such issues like sex, a natural biological imperative, and make it a big thing.