The Price I Paid for Malaysian 'Justice'

The last time Anwar Ibrahim was put on trial, I was tortured and forced to 'confess' to sodomy

My detention by the Malaysian Special Branch taught me how it feels to be forcibly separated from one's wife and children. How it feels to be searched and seized, disallowed to make phone calls, handcuffed, blindfolded, stripped naked, driven in an animal cage, shaven bald, endlessly interrogated, humiliated, drugged, deprived of sleep, physically abused.

By MUNAWAR A. ANEES, Wall Street Journal

Nearly 12 years ago, I was languishing in a local hospital as a prisoner of conscience. This loss of freedom was due solely to my long-standing personal and professional association with Anwar Ibrahim, then Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Malaysia. We were falsely implicated in a fabricated case of having committed a mutual act of sodomy.

Such an internment, when driven by ulterior motives, brings a brutal deprivation upon the victim. It acts like a double-edged sword. While one's freedom of movement is taken away by tormentors, one's conscience suffocates in a dungeon. A poignant grief sets in once there is awareness that both the body and the conscience have fallen victim to the act of tyranny. That is what distinguishes incarceration out of an actual crime from that emanating from the acts of those who prosecute and persecute innocent others. The tormented memory never fades.

My detention by the Malaysian Special Branch taught me how it feels to be forcibly separated from one's wife and children. How it feels to be searched and seized, disallowed to make phone calls, handcuffed, blindfolded, stripped naked, driven in an animal cage, shaven bald, endlessly interrogated, humiliated, drugged, deprived of sleep, physically abused. What it's like to be threatened, blackmailed, hectored by police lawyers, brutalized to make a totally false confession, hospitalized for a consequent heart ailment, and treated as a psychiatric patient with symptoms of Stockholm syndrome. Barely surviving on a meager diet of rancid rice and chicken along with 12 medicines a day, I spent nearly 126 days handcuffed round the clock to my hospital bed, under the watchful eyes of the prison guards.

These tragic events completely ruined me and my family. The financial, physical, psychological and social implications of this calamity reverberate even more than a decade after the horrific occurrence. Words fail to describe what my family and I have quietly endured for the last 10 years. In spite of that, our faith in the ultimate victory of justice and truth has not wavered.

For the last 12 years, I have sought nothing but justice. I have repeatedly approached the Malaysian judicial system—the High Court, the Court of Appeals and the Federal Court—in the hope that justice would be duly provided to me. Unfortunately, my latest request for a review at the Federal Court was dismissed. Why does the judicial system shudder at the prospect of hearing my demand for justice? Why am I denied my day in court?

I am innocent. I am innocent of any and all spurious charges brought against me. I committed no crime for which I was tortured and unjustly imprisoned. I want the Malaysian judicial system to wake up to the fact that gross injustice was committed against me. I want them to realize that the injustice is perpetuated the more I continue to be denied my day in the court. My innocence inspires me to persist and persevere in the path of justice, as it is one of the fundamental human rights enshrined in the Constitution of Malaysia. The judicial system in Malaysia must rise to the call of duty and serve justice without any further delay.

Mr. Anees is a writer based in Tucson, Ariz.

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written by jalapeno, February 03, 2010 12:23:45

MUNAWAR A. ANEES, a name that would go into my diary as another Malaysian hero. I would like to express my deepest sympathy to what had happened to you. You are indeed a noble man as you did not even utter the names of the people that implicate you. I hate to see the outflow of such talented and good-hearted people away from Malaysia. Anyhow, I wish you all the best sir. Don't bother coming home, it's not worth it.

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written by SoundMan, February 02, 2010 19:53:13

Munawar A. Anees, I have read a little of your writings what you endured. And your efforts for justice in the Malaysian courts. My heart goes out to you.
Shame on the spiteful and decidedly mad ex-PM mahathir, and the crooks he had/has at his service to launch this assault on your person and dignity. Trampling on the human rights of yours and that of your family based on a jealous hate for his Deputy.
Keep fighting for justice. Cry out on the world's battlefields - blog-sites and and to the free press of the world - you will overcome.
That day will come. Keep on fighting, don't stop! Every effort helps!

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written by Sunshine1, February 02, 2010 18:09:31

Dr Munawar...you should tell more of this EVIL BN..spread your words around, speak at PR rally,tell the rakyat how EVIL bn was,and still is and forever will be Evil

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written by Sunshine1, February 02, 2010 18:06:24

What can be more EVIL than BN ? Not even the Devil himself. I am ashamed to be a Malaysian. One day I shall be proud to be a Malaysian...when BN is buried for good especially Mamathir,Najis n those umNOputras and those Fcuking chinky MCA and watever.

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written by magickriver, February 02, 2010 17:10:40

Sorry, Marina, didn't intend to perform a sex change operation on you. I meant "her writings"....

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written by magickriver, February 02, 2010 17:09:08

The tragic case of Dr Munawar Anees must never be forgotten or swept under the carpet. For this dastardly act alone, Mahathir deserves a 20-year prison term. What an ugly, maggot-infested mind that Mahamamak must possess. But can we pity his descendants?
One of them happens tp be the personable, articulate and politically correct Marina. It's easy to like her, especially for the open-minded and reasonable stance in his writings... but is she aware what her father has done to the nation???

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written by Wakeupmsia, February 02, 2010 16:38:58

Dear Dr. Anees,

You have our sympathy. We know you were innocent like the many, many victims. Justice will only be served to you when the 'Grand Evil Man' is no longer around.......hopefully soon...No, the sooner the better. Secondly, when a new Government takes over Putrajaya. Thirdly, trial, imprison or hang those involved when not IF, found guilty (they are worse than drug pushers). One has already gone to HELL. Preserverence and Justice will find it's way.

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written by storm62, February 02, 2010 12:27:01

So many people suffered from the sodomy 1created by mamak kerala and the stupid idiots who awarded him with a "tun" title must be blind or retarded. and this evil mamak is still out in the open, where is justice?

poor Dr Munawar, may those who fixed you up rot in hell.

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written by ganbing, February 02, 2010 12:06:30

Unfortunately for Najib and his goons, foreign investors do not read Utusan and NST. They read Wall Street Journal and New York Times. So spin all you want in your Umno controlled mainstream media, the truth will be laid bare for the world to see. And the truth is that Malaysia has become a banana republic like Zimbabwe with no respect for the rule of law. Be prepared to face the consequences of your devilish action if Anwar is convicted once again in a sham trial.

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written by Better My, February 02, 2010 11:40:24

A govnernment that has no compassion for their citizens and their suffering in ISA detention camps, due to difference of opinions, should be thrashed.

Every Malay must look in the miror ask today.
Is this true to my Islam teachings in modern times?
Is this what I want for my chidlren and chidlren's childen, just because they are outspoken and have differences of views?

The daily "drugs" money that the malay masses received everyday is tainted with blood. with so many unaccountable deaths in custodies. We cannot simply ignore this, not repeat the way German public pretend not to know the Jews holocast suffering, WW II.

Any race or religon without conscience and compassion is a nothing race or religion.

The Malay can make the key difference in the next GE. For the sake of your race to mature, go out on your foot to each Malay kampung folk and bring the merciless govenment down It is time..

We have stopped listening to you. For Malaysia.

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written by DreamLady, February 02, 2010 10:42:33

My dear Mr. Anees, I am very upset and am feeling very sorry for the agony you and family have to put up with. It is an undeniable fact the person who is responsible for causing you so much pain and suffering is none other than the Master of the devils: Mahathir!!!

He has created a big, black hole of Calcutta to breed more of his kind to supress and intimidate those who cross their path, as you could see Malaysia is in a total mess, the day will come when hell shall break lose, and that will be the day when a total chaos is inevitable..The question is: where would the people of Malaysia go from there then?????

Mr. Anees, please, continue to take good care of yourself and family, the day of reckoning for the devil is awaiting. A big hug for you and family would be just my way of showing how much I feel for you the misfortune that torments and tortures you.... .

Please, God, bless Mr. Anees and his family, and keep them away from harm's way...Amiin...........

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written by Sashi Nair, February 02, 2010 10:19:26

Stupid morons who drive their cars with those dumb sticker saying 'proud to be Malaysia' - Ppl form Bangladesh and even Pakistan and Myanmar are laughing at us........... And yet so many UMNO and BN apologist..... What a shame....

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written by arazak, February 02, 2010 09:52:54

Malaysian Judicial system . . ., what's that?

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written by mick_err_stan, February 02, 2010 09:49:40

The injustice suffered by Dr Anees is unprecedented. There was a blatant abuse of power and the the perpetrators goes unpunished........this is totally evil. There is no justice in Malaysia. The evil reigns in Malaysia.

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written by batsman, February 02, 2010 09:16:47

Welcome to Malaysia Boleh, 1Malaysia, etc, etc.

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written by Taikohtai, February 02, 2010 09:08:35

Dr Anees is being denied human justice but the penultimate penalty awaits the real perpetrators. The unfortunate victims still have the chance to seek inner peace within themselves but the Malaysia KANGAROOS are destined for a spell that no sentient being will ever wish for, even for their worst enemies.
Malaysia is blessed and cursed at the same time. Remove BN and Malaysia becomes a PARADISE!

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written by Duke, February 02, 2010 08:21:48

The Wall Street Journal has given prominent (negative) coverage of Anwar's trial.......I guess Najis and that Fat Bitch were expecting glowing world-wide coverage of their antics.
But trust that Utusan shit paper to spin the trial proceedings to eye-wash the kampong folk....

Next, I trust the international media will give full publicity to the sham trial that is going to take place.
As it stands, no MNC investor trusts the Malaysian judicial system. Is it any wonder that all agreements must have an arbitration clause insisting that arbitration be carried out according to the Laws of Singapore!

The sham trial publicity should be enough for Najis and his UMNOputras to be given the cold shoulder on their next round-the-world meet-the-investors junket.

With the exception of Zimbabwe, perhaps.....

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written by NSTPravda, February 02, 2010 06:54:33

Why am I denied my day in court?

Elementary matson, the kangaroos don't understand your pleas except as directed by their superior. By the way, it will considerably help your case if you write everything in the authorized version of kangarese and suitably sworn on the approved version of Qur'an. It has been known that some chosen leaders even got away with billion $ corruption and murder that way. Elsewhere the justice you seek is blind, in bolehland justice has an eye for business deals. We still have the best justice that money can buy, this side of the universe.

Good luck to you Incik Anee!!
$emua-nya OK!
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