By Dr Chen Man Hin
Ever since Sodomy 2 trial began, the name of Anwar Ibrahim has rocketed in the major newspapers spanning the globe from east to west and north to south.
In Jakarta, Bangkok, Hong Kkong, Taiwan, Tokyo, Sydney, Washington, New York, London, Paris, Rome, Cairo, New Delhi, there was universal protest that Anwar should be tried once again on trumped up charges of sodomy.
The editorials in Bangkok Post, New York Times, Washington Post, Asian Wall Street Journal were replete with derision, mockery and scorn that a prominent opposition leader could be arraigned before the court on trumped up sodomy for a second time.
In 1998, Anwar was tried and jailed for six years on trumped up charges of sodomy. He was later exonerated from the false charges. The international community is therefore shocked with disbelief that the Malaysian Government is trying the same trick again.
They are aware that Anwar is a very strong contender to be Prime Minister. He is leader of a strong opposition coalition PAKATAN which won five states in the 2008 general elections. The international community is also aware that the present Prime Minister Najib Razak is the mastermind of Sodomy 2 trial, with the intention of putting Awar in prison for twenty years to eliminate him as a challenger to be prime minister.
In a globalised world, democracy, justice and fair play are the rules that nations are expected to follow. any foul play or trickery is condemned. Trumped up sodomy charges against Anwar are not tolerated.
Hence Anwar has become the cause celebre of the world, and all peace loving countries will be campaigning actively to see that the trumped up charge of sodomy against Anwar iras withdrawn as soon as possible.
These strong sentiments of the international community is reflected by the protest of fifty Australian Members of Parliament to the Malaysian High Commissioner to Australia recently.
Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has voiced dissatisfaction with the action of the Malaysian Government in pressing trumped up charges of sodomy against Anwar.
DAP’s Lim Kit Siang , senior member of parliament has called for Parliament to debate on the false charges against Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. Unfortunately, Prime Minister Najib has dismissed lhis call, saying that ‘the problem is just a matter between two individuals’.
If this is the attitude of the Prime Minister, then it is proper for DAP to warn the Prime Minister he is putting the country in grave danger of being subject to world sanctions.
SANCTIONS
Learn from the example of Myanmar which is sufferring from sanctions imposed by UN causing great pain to Myanmar’s economy and bringing poverty and unemployment for the people.
The military junta in Myanmar in 1990 arrested and jailed Aung San Suu Kyi, opposition leader who led her party to victory in the general elections. She was put under house arrest for 14 years, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1991.
Anwar could be another Aung San Suu Kyi. Anwar poses a threat to Najib to be the next Prime Minister. With the sodomy 2 trial, a conviction will remove him as a threat. If this happens expect the world to impose economic sanctions.
This would be disastrous for the country. Already, capital outflows have increased 50% over last year. FDIs have fallen badly to levels much below Indonesia and Vietnam. Last year over 300,000 talented Malaysians emigrated to greener pastures.
It would be impossible to imagine the disastrous effect on the economy if Anwar were to be convicted and world sanctions are imposed.
The prime ministers vision of 1 Malaysia will be the first casualty.
THE DAP CALLS ON NAJIB TO WITHDRAW THE TRUMPED UP CHARGES OF SODOMY AGAINST ANWAR IMMEDIATELY.