"Malaysia's Anwar alleges 'conspiracy' as he is sent to jail - AFP Feb 10, 2015
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia - Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim alleged a "political conspiracy" as he was sent to jail Tuesday after his appeal against a sodomy conviction was overturned, likely spelling the end of his political career.
Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria dismissed Anwar's challenge against last year's conviction for sodomising a young male former aide, saying the court found "overwhelming evidence" of the crime.
Sodomy is punishable by up to 20 years in prison in Muslim-majority Malaysia. Anwar was taken from the court in the afternoon to begin his sentence.
Arifin read his judgements out to a stunned courtroom packed with journalists, opposition figures, and Anwar's family and supporters, many of whom wept quietly.
Anwar later took to the dock to launch a scathing attack on the Federal Court panel of justices, accusing them of collusion in a "political conspiracy" by Malaysia's now 58-year-old ruling regime.
"In bowing to the dictates of your political masters, you have become partners to the crime," he said.
"You have chosen to be on the dark side." "I will not be silenced! I will never surrender!" Anwar shouted at the judges as they abruptly got up to leave.
Government critics say the case is part of a long-running campaign to destroy Anwar, a former deputy premier who was ousted from the ruling party in the late 1990s and later helped unite a previously divided and hapless opposition into a formidable force."
Well well well. The episode is finally over!
Lessons for me are:
1. in this PARTICULAR case, your sense of what is right and what is wrong has been strongly tested! There were so many twists and turns that doubts somehow will be cast on the quality of the judgement. A sad situation indeed;
2. having said that, it is NOT for a citizen from a friendly neighbour to question too much the internal politics just as Singapore does not welcome foreigners commenting on OUR own politics. So, suffice to say it is for the Malaysians to decide what they want;
3. it will be interesting to see what will develop over the next few days. Will cool heads prevail or emotions will run wild?
Peace and prosperity to both nations as a peaceful Malaysia can only benefit Singapore.
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia - Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim alleged a "political conspiracy" as he was sent to jail Tuesday after his appeal against a sodomy conviction was overturned, likely spelling the end of his political career.
Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria dismissed Anwar's challenge against last year's conviction for sodomising a young male former aide, saying the court found "overwhelming evidence" of the crime.
Sodomy is punishable by up to 20 years in prison in Muslim-majority Malaysia. Anwar was taken from the court in the afternoon to begin his sentence.
Arifin read his judgements out to a stunned courtroom packed with journalists, opposition figures, and Anwar's family and supporters, many of whom wept quietly.
Anwar later took to the dock to launch a scathing attack on the Federal Court panel of justices, accusing them of collusion in a "political conspiracy" by Malaysia's now 58-year-old ruling regime.
"In bowing to the dictates of your political masters, you have become partners to the crime," he said.
"You have chosen to be on the dark side." "I will not be silenced! I will never surrender!" Anwar shouted at the judges as they abruptly got up to leave.
Government critics say the case is part of a long-running campaign to destroy Anwar, a former deputy premier who was ousted from the ruling party in the late 1990s and later helped unite a previously divided and hapless opposition into a formidable force."
Well well well. The episode is finally over!
Lessons for me are:
1. in this PARTICULAR case, your sense of what is right and what is wrong has been strongly tested! There were so many twists and turns that doubts somehow will be cast on the quality of the judgement. A sad situation indeed;
2. having said that, it is NOT for a citizen from a friendly neighbour to question too much the internal politics just as Singapore does not welcome foreigners commenting on OUR own politics. So, suffice to say it is for the Malaysians to decide what they want;
3. it will be interesting to see what will develop over the next few days. Will cool heads prevail or emotions will run wild?
Peace and prosperity to both nations as a peaceful Malaysia can only benefit Singapore.
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