This trial, like the first trial of Anwar Ibrahim, is a disgrace to Malaysia, a country that aspires to democratic norms, where parties change power peacefully and political opponents are not persecuted by organs of the state. Perverting the legal system for political ends by charging Anwar with sexual offences is an affront to human rights.
Michael Danby
Tonight, I want to speak out on behalf of fellow democrats around Asia, who are flabbergasted at events unfolding in Kuala Lumpur. I refer to the trial which began today of the Malaysian Opposition Leader, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim. For the second time, the Malaysian leader of the Opposition, Anwar Ibrahim is on trial for what they call in ancient grating English, ‘Sodomy’. For the second time, the Malaysian legal system is being manipulated by supporters of the incumbent government to drive Malaysia’s best known leader Anwar Ibrahim out of national politics. For the second time, documents are being forged, witnesses are being coerced, evidence is being fabricated.
This trial, like the first trial of Anwar Ibrahim, is a disgrace to Malaysia, a country that aspires to democratic norms, where parties change power peacefully and political opponents are not persecuted by organs of the state. Perverting the legal system for political ends by charging Anwar with sexual offences is an affront to human rights. In the first place, the offences with which Anwar has been charged that should not be on the statute book. Australia abolished its laws punishing consenting adult homosexual acts decades ago, as did most advanced countries. It’s long past time that Malaysia also repealed these laws, which it inherited from British colonial times. If these laws did not exist, they could not be used for political purposes as we are currently seeing.
In the second place, everyone in Malaysia, and everyone in the international legal community, knows that Anwar is innocent of these charges. This week the Wall Street Journal published a first-hand account of how the Malaysian Special Branch police fabricated the charges that led to Anwar’s first trial in 1998. Munawar Anees recalled how he had been starved and beaten into signing a false confession which implicated Anwar. Now it’s happening again. These are the lengths to which the corrupt elements within the Malaysian ruling party are willing to go to frame Anwar and remove his threat to their power.
Malaysia is a long-time friend and ally of Australia. Over the past 40 years Malaysia has become an increasingly prosperous and successful multi-cultural society. We continue our friendly and mutually beneficial relationship with Malaysia, which is a deep economic, strategic and cultural relationship.
But Malaysia is also a country of 28 million people who have lived ever since independence more than 50 years ago under the rule of the same party, the United Malay National Organisation or UMNO. UMNO has stayed in power by playing on the Malay fears of the Chinese and Indian minorities. So long as Malaysian politics were polarised even subtlety along racial lines, so long as the Malays voted loyally for UMNO, then the self-perpetuating UMNO oligarchy, who have grown rich through long years of power and through their cozy links to business, would be safe.
That’s why Anwar Ibrahim is such a threat. For the first time Malaysia has a charismatic Malay opposition politician able to appeal to Malay voters and pose a real threat to UMNO’s hold on power. At the 2008 elections Anwar’s People’s Justice Party and its allies won 60 seats away from UMNO and its allies, creating a viable two-party system for the first time. As a result, Abdullah Badawi was deposed as Prime Minister and replaced by Najib Razak, but the threat from Anwar’s coalition continues to grow. So even though the first attempt to frame Anwar on these spurious charged had failed, the corrupt forces within UMNO have decided to try again.
I recently had the privilege of meeting Anwar Ibrahim when he was in Melbourne for the Parliament of the World’s Religions in December. He is an intelligent and articulate and passionate democrat. He is committed to a thorough reform of Malaysian government, to rid it of the cronyism, corruption and authoritarian tendencies that have gained ground since Mahathir Mohammed became Prime Minister in 1981. He is a great, although not uncritical, friend and admirer of Australia. If he were to become Malaysia’s Prime Minister our relationship with Malaysia would become even stronger.
I am pleased that in the last few hours the judge has suspended the case against Anwar for a day. I hope Prime Minister Najib and his ministers are not involved. The best way for them to prove that they are not is to intervene and have these charges withdrawn, and those responsible for fabricating them punished. Malaysia is a great country, and an emerging power in our region. It can do without the embarrassment that these disgraceful proceedings are undermining its newly won democratic credibility.
written by Gary Q, February 04, 2010 12:36:00
I dunno but don't you think that's quite enough of your sarcastic comments? Believe me, I am saying this with all due respect and I know it is your trademark way of commenting.
I am also aware that you DO comment seriously at times. So, maybe we can move on to Full time non-sarcastic comments? Just a suggestion.
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written by SoundMan, February 04, 2010 12:18:57
You alredy say, "I hope Prime Minister Najib and his ministers are not involved." Alamak, you dont know, huh ?
We have great Prime Minister who is in-charge of everyfink. Powerful. He is Sultans Sultan in Malaysia today. Aussie spy people no good, eh? Too much drinking foster beer, lah.
Drink beer, Haram for Malai women. Get 700 time canes backside for one glass. Two glass? 2 X haram ! Boys ok, can drink quiet quiet, ask Malaysia envoy to US, JJ.
Michael Danby get good spys, lah. Out source, I recommenk to Mossad. One day when economy no good, umno will sell Penang! Yah, believe me, Mamak Mahatir alredy propose Malai people when no money sell sell sell everyfink. Ya, everyfink. Send good Mossad and wait, one day sure sure happening.
You Dont know Unmo control everythink kah? Police, Judges,Immigration, Ports, Airports, Customs, JPJ, Hasil, Air Asia, Mas, Schools and Jabatan Air dan Letrik. Also, sand and trees and everyfink, lah, everyfink ok?
So what Anwar. Only ikan bilis to umno. Put him in jail then again people bow down to Sultan Najib and first ladyship or any fart that they put up as leader and ladyship.
PM & ministers umno control everyfink so no need to be involved, employees will do all the shitting job. Now you know.
Funny, one time the Kerela mamak guy 'recalcitrant' Mahatir make all Chinese and Indians and some locals all shit in our pants waiting for outbreaks of May 13, lah, amok Malays, lah, ISA, lah, Police arrests,lah and many many frightening finks.
Ahhhhhh... good old days of rumors, counter rumors, lies and more lies are back again....
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written by NSTPravda, February 04, 2010 05:42:47
Just like a bluddy Aussie to poke his long nose into the internal affairs of our fairland.
How dare you affront our
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written by NottyMaus, February 04, 2010 02:32:42
We weren't to know 70 years on, we would still need your help!
Please send your Navy to the Straits of Malacca now to standby in event our gomen stirs up big trouble.
Great Britain, can you hear the pleading voices of the people from Malaysia?
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written by Duke, February 03, 2010 23:23:45
Go quickly tell your UMNOputra pariahs to demo in front of the Oz high commission.......
Oh, and don't forget to send a note to Kevin Rudd asking him to fire Mike Danby.
Don't you in the least bit feel embarassed, Najis?
Please lah, for Malaysia's sake, why don't you and your UMNO pariahs go fall into a big dark hole somewhere & disappear from our lives.
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written by avancc, February 03, 2010 22:59:55
Then suspend or put them under investigation. Lock these goons down in case they run over to your country after our next GE. You know, I'm sure you wouldn't want devils to migrate to your country and creates silly problems there.
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written by jokersland, February 03, 2010 21:29:19
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written by Eskay345, February 03, 2010 20:57:06
We, Malaysians thank you for your sincere concerns in speaking against injustices being heaped on our opposition leaders and in this instance the sham accusation of sodomy on Anwar Ibrahim brought about by none other than our Prime Minister with the connivance of the Police, AG's office and the justice-system.
Most Malaysians know that this trumped-up sodomy charge is a means to put Anwar Ibrahim in jail so that he would not be a threat to challenge the PM's party (Umno) in the coming GE-13. Umno has been ruling the country for half a century. The party that bred money-politics, corruption and cronyism in every level of the civil-servants and politicians. We are already at par with Burma and Zimbabwe.
So help do the needful.
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written by philip25, February 03, 2010 20:51:30
Also I wish to thank you for coming out so strongly on this issue.
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written by ganbing, February 03, 2010 20:15:23
The good citizens of Malaysia who love democracy and justice thank you for your right and passionate response to the shameless machination that is now unfolding before the eyes of the world. Although there is not a shred of evidence against Mr. Anwar, he will be convicted by a kangaroo court based on the words of his accuser and fake DNA evidence.
Please continue to raise international awareness of this grave misdeed. This trial which is worthy of Stalin and Hitler has no place in the modern world. Malaysia may be the first country in the world to convict a man of rape when 2 medial reports have confirmed no penetration. Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe will be impressed!
The reason I speak as if Anwar is already convicted is because he does not stand the ghost of a chance under an Umno judge. This is like asking a Jew to get justice from Hitler's court.
Thank you again for your courage and sense of justice. The ruling party must be shamed in no uncertain terms for the audacity and arrogance to stage this sham trial.
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written by earthman, February 03, 2010 19:37:23
As much as we love democracy and rules of laws, we would not condoned unatural intercourse of the same sex. You are leading the people in the wrong direction where the end results will have a very bad consequence later on. Dont think that freedom of choice means one can go against unatural act. If that is so then euthanasia and killing as in abortions would later become legal and the norm of a fallen society that is doomed.
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written by Better My, February 03, 2010 19:20:28
his email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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written by AtanSian, February 03, 2010 19:14:02
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written by Better My, February 03, 2010 18:54:12
Much as we want to attend to our own affairs, we have shown we are incapable and have not matured as a country despite the meaningless outward appearance of Petronas Towers and sprawling KL buildings, and 50 years since independence.
Another bout of the "calcitrant Mahathir and Keating" could set back Malaysia-Australia trade by another 20 years. Mahathir is rearing it ugly head of late. We need your reporters to tear his issues apart from yorus perspective, condemn his very divisive "playing of race cards" We must not let the "damage to trade" happen again.
Born and raised in Malaysia, ISA detainees are dying with no accountability. Please show compassion to help us tear the ISA walls down, like the way the wrold tore down the Berlin wall.
We need your guidance to emulate your successful British based democratic parliamentary government system and ethics, with the impending alternative govenment formation in the next GE.
Please give more Malaysie more air time in your SBS station, a good cultural independent govt station, and ABC TV station/radios to encourage all Malaysian and ex-Malaysian in Australia to participate in the new and better Malaysia and improving bilateral relationship.
The next GE neeeds to be won. Your support now in whatever means would be greatly appeciated and reciprocated once Anwar rules the country soon. Guarantee, as good as gold.
Thanks so very much.
For Malaysia
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written by techgeek, February 03, 2010 18:51:17
Unfortunately for Malaysia, they ARE. The bugger who allegedly got buggered by Anwar received special attention from the Prime Minister, who "counseled" him before he actually went to the Police. Only in Malaysia can you find national leaders lending an ear to someone who allegedly got sodomized.
On a separate note, would Australia accept Malaysians who want to escape the persecution and injustice heaped on us by the ruling coalition? I'm going to apply to migrate to Australia because I cannot bear to see my children grow up in this country where justice is a joke and where criminals are walking in the corridors of power. Please?
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written by arazak, February 03, 2010 18:42:26
We appreciate very much for your concern to the Malaysian citizens.
It is indeed true that the ruling regime is practicing corruption and cronyism. Mr Barry Wain wrote that the ex-Prime Minister who had ruled this country for 22 years squandered about RM100 billion. The 22 years dictator on the other hand, told us the previous Prime Minister before Najib squandered RM 270 billion. Yous see Mr. Danby, they are now blaming each other on who squandered the most amount of money. Many of the ruling regime ploiticians had bought properties in Australia using the money they stole from us.
If you can recall, previously we have a Chief Minister from the state of Selangor who was caught red-handed trying to smuggle money into your country. However your Australian court let him off the hook as he said "me no speke English" in the court. He had certainly fooled your judiciary system.
Well if you wish to help the people of Malaysia, please reveal to us the amount of wealth and properties owned by the Malaysian ruling regime politicians in Australia. We need to know how many billions of RM they had stolen from us. Surely you can put your Australian “Money Laundering Act” into effect!
Till then, I wish you with good health and may God bless you.
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written by educationist, February 03, 2010 18:25:36
Perhaps if some sort of concrete measure can be taken to pressure the UMOputras, Anwar may have a chance
Otherwise, as RPk advised, Anwar better implement his plan B.
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written by eloofk, February 03, 2010 18:00:49
Thank you very much for your initiative to speak out and put pressure on Malaysia to get rid of a devilish prime minister who is destroying our beautiful country. He has gone through great length to assume power at all cost without any regard for the safety, security and prosperity of the country and its people.
You will be remembered as a good and trusted friend of Malaysia to internationalise the second framed -up charges of sodomy against Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is seen to be a threat to his position as Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Malaysia will be indebted to your kind and humanitarian gesture to spread the word around to all world leaders on how Dato Seri Anwar was unjustly and inhumanly treated.
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written by datuk tanah, February 03, 2010 17:56:05
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written by Sunshine1, February 03, 2010 17:42:38
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written by avancc, February 03, 2010 17:42:09
He has failed his mission as a leader of Malaysia. He has failed in the eyes of his own countrymen, and now, he failed in the eyes of the world. Malaysia will be the laughing stock, and receive little, or no respect should this continue.
To save the country's reputation, the absurd humiliation has to stop. And the people involved has to resign, and brought to justice. And a fresh election being called nationwide.
If BN wins again, while the whole world despite them... Then Malaysian has to pay for their own ignorance. We see similar situation in Taiwan, and they regretted. Now Chen Sui Bian is charged for a great numbers of crimes...
Now, we Malaysian has to save our beloved country. And start mending our reputation in the eyes of the world.... May Allah bless us all in our quest.
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written by DreamLady, February 03, 2010 17:33:13
Please, I beg you to try, whatever legal means to undo the evil spell once for all................
Thank you very much, May God bless you always..
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written by SpeakOut, February 03, 2010 17:22:44
Michael Danby, I applaud you for speaking against the injustice committed by the evil BN government. Wil you please rally the international community to pressure the government to uphold democratic principles as provided for in the Malaysian Constitution? Don;t worry about the backlash as NOT everybody agrees with what the evil BN government is doing. There will be many that will join the chorus of dissent. Thank you.
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Reading your speech was like getting some fresh air amidst the current political situation in Malaysia that STINKS! Thank you for highlighting the problems that are plaguing Malaysia at the moment. You are right about Malaysia being beautiful. However, there are too many unanswered questions on the numerous scandals that are being swept under the carpet. I feel that our country is being destroyed by irresponsible and selfish, highly corrupted people.
Please do not get offended by the narrow-mindedness of some of the bloggers on this website who write negatively about your countrymen. I was in Australia for my undergraduate studies and although not everybody was perfect, I found your countrymen to be decent and fair people. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the Malaysian politicians.
Please help us, Sir!