Malaysia's Anwar says he may be charged with sodomy

Malaysia's opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim insisted Wednesday he will fight a by-election later this year and form a new government despite fears he will soon be charged with sodomy.

"There are thousands of criminal cases not properly investigated. Why pursue this with zeal and in an unjust way? Is it because I will participate in a by-election," Anwar told reporters.

"You want me to withdraw? No. I will continue to pursue the change. Let's see if they want to charge me," he said after being interviewed by Islamic sharia enforcement officials over the sodomy allegations.

The former deputy prime minister admitted that his family and friends will undergo the same suffering they experienced in 1998 if he is "victimised, arrested and jailed."

Anwar has said the allegations of a young male aide, a repeat of charges that saw him jailed a decade ago, have been fabricated to block his plans to topple the coalition that has ruled Malaysia for half a century.

He has demanded that police stop the investigation and called the aide, 23-year-old Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, an "outright liar" who was working with others in power to frame him.

Police, however, have said they will continue sodomy investigations on Anwar despite a leaked medical report which he said had vindicated him as it showed no evidence that his accuser was sodomised.

A senior hospital official Wednesday said the report "looks genuine" and said the doctor who examined Saiful was not a specialist.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the medical report was part of a whole chain of evidence which police were investigating, the Star daily reported.

"We have to let the police complete their investigations, submit their investigating papers to the prosecutor and let the prosecutor decide if there is a case," the home minister was quoted as saying by the newspaper Wednesday.

Sodomy even between consenting adults is a crime punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment in mostly Muslim Malaysia.

Anwar aims to return to parliament for the first time in a decade if a court orders a by-election near his home town -- the next step in his political rehabilitation after being sacked in 1998 and later jailed on sodomy and corruption charges.

A high court in Kedah state will hear a challenge on August 19, asking it to invalidate the result in a seat that was won by his Keadilan party in March 8 general elections.

Anwar described the police investigations as a "political vendetta" against him and reminded the security authorities that Malaysia was not a "police state."

"They accuse me of being a person planted by the Americans. They accuse me of wanting to sell this country to China. I advise the police to probe (the allegations) based on facts," he said.

Agence France-Presse - 7/30/2008 11:21 AM GMT

Opposition plan to seize power in Malaysia on track: Anwar

Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday said an opposition plan to seize power remained intact despite a series of secret talks between one of its partners with the ruling government.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi over the weekend announced his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) had held three meetings with the opposition Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) to discuss issues related to Islam and Malay unity.

Local reports said the move by PAS to engage UMNO without the knowledge of Anwar's Keadilan and the Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party (DAP) had created rifts in the opposition, which is divided along religious and idealogical lines.

But Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, said PAS had assured him that it was committed to the opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance.

"We are still on track. It is not a question of toppling the government but to ensure that the people win. I have said that I am the prime minister in waiting.

"For now, I have no reason to question the intention of the PAS leadership. They have given an assurance to me that the collaboration with the opposition remains and is unchanged," he said.
PAS youth chief Salahuddin Ayub told AFP that there will be no more "secret meetings" with UMNO.

"We remain committed to the opposition pact. We will work together. We will not discuss with UMNO the issue of power sharing," he said.

In April, the three opposition parties announced a strategic alliance after humbling the ruling coalition with unprecedented gains in elections the month before.

The parties, rallied by Anwar, claimed more than a third of parliamentary seats and five of the 13 states in the March 8 polls, handing the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition its worst electoral result since 1969.

Anwar also said he had briefed 38 foreign diplomats from key Western countries including the United States on the political situation in Malaysia.

He also said he had talked to them about the sodomy allegations levelled against him by a 23-year-old male former aide.

He said the claims had been fabricated to prevent him from seizing power and showed he posed a threat to Abdullah's coalition, which has ruled Malaysia for more than 50 years.

A return to parliament would be the next step in the political rehabilitation of Anwar, who was sacked as deputy premier in 1998 and jailed on sodomy and corruption charges.

The sex conviction was later overturned, but the corruption count barred him from public office until April.


Agence France-Presse - 7/23/2008 11:22 AM GMT

Malaysia's Anwar vows to topple government

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Monday vowed to topple the prime minister despite what he called attempts to "demonise and intimidate" him.

Anwar said allegations of sodomy levelled by a 23-year-old male aide showed he posed a threat to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's National Front coalition, which has ruled Malaysia for more than 50 years.

"We are on track to take over the government. We want to pursue this agenda for reform," a smiling Anwar told reporters.

"Clearly, I am a political threat."

Anwar spent a night in police cells last week after he was arrested on sodomy allegations he says the government fabricated to prevent him from seizing power.

"What is the issue? I have not seen the (police) report (made by Saiful)," he said.

Anwar's Keadilan party aims to establish a new coalition government by the end of the year, its information chief told AFP.

"We are confident a change of government will happen by year-end," said Tian Chua.

A return to parliament would be the next step in the political rehabilitation of Anwar, who was sacked as deputy premier in 1998 and jailed on sodomy and corruption charges.
The sex conviction was later overturned, but the corruption count barred him from public office until April.

Fired up by Anwar's charismatic presence, the opposition Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance made unprecedented gains in March general elections, leaving it just 30 seats short of ousting the ruling coalition.

But the accusation by aide Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan that Anwar sexually assaulted him threatens to derail the former deputy premier's political comeback.

On Monday, Saiful's father Azlan Mohammad Lazim said his son was "ready to swear at any time ... in a mosque ... that he was sodomised as reported to the police, once the investigations are over."

Anwar has refused to provide a DNA sample to police saying he feared the evidence would be manipulated, but on Monday Saiful's lawyer urged him to cooperate.

"Saiful is urging Anwar to give his DNA sample and to cooperate with the police to speed up the investigation," Zamri Idrus told reporters.

"I was appointed in July as Saiful's counsel and I saw him just a few days ago. We are asking Anwar to give greater cooperation to the police and we push for a quick resolution to the investigation," he said.

Anwar Monday condemned police over his arrest last Thursday, when he spent a night in a cell and underwent a strip search.

"Why ambush and arrest me? Why put me in a cell? Why treat me like a common criminal? There is a pattern to demonise and intimidate me," he said.

The comments came as Malaysia's police chief filed a defamation lawsuit accusing Anwar of fabricating evidence.

Anwar has accused Musa Hassan and attorney general Abdul Gani Patail of manipulating evidence in an investigation into an alleged beating he received while in police custody ten years ago.

Anwar welcomed the lawsuit, saying he was prepared to face Musa in court.
"I will deal with this in court. I am happy to take him to court," Anwar told reporters after giving a statement to prosecutors.

Agence France-Presse - 7/21/2008 11:14 AM GMT

Malaysia PM's handover plan fails to silence critics

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's decision to step down in favour of his deputy in mid-2010 has not silenced calls for a prompt change of leadership after a drubbing in March elections.

Abdullah said Thursday he had struck an agreement with his deputy Najib Razak to hand over power, but first wanted the opportunity to implement reforms and projects promised since he came to office five years ago.

The premier has faced repeated calls to resign from within his ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), after unprecedented losses in the elections and a fuel price hike that triggered public outrage.

Although his announcement was aimed at silencing these dissident factions, and averting a challenge in UMNO leadership polls in December, rumblings from within have already begun.
Party vice president Muhyiddin Yassin, a potential leadership contender who has much to lose under the deal, said some in the party preferred a quicker handover and wanted to decide their new leader for themselves.

"Some have expressed concern that if the duration is that long the situation will not become more convincing. This needs to be taken into account," Muhyiddin told state news agency Bernama.

"The election is still far. Why the haste to make the decision now," he said. Muhyiddin was tipped as a number-two to Najib after Abdullah's departure, but will now have to wait two years for a chance at the role.

UMNO veteran Razaleigh Hamzah, a prince from northern Kelantan state who wants to challenge Abdullah for the top job, also questioned the premier's right to hand over the party's leadership to Najib.

"It's improper for Abdullah to hand over any post as it is an elected post," he told Bernama. Traditionally the president of UMNO, which leads a national coalition representing Malaysia's various races, is also prime minister.

"Many people are unaware that the PM must get permission from various institutions especially the King before doing this," he said.

Abdullah's predecessor Mahathir Mohamad, a staunch Najib ally who had a very public falling out with Abdullah, predicted that Najib will never become prime minister.

"Although Najib was promised that a transition would take place in 2010, all kinds of accusations will be hurled at him so that Najib would appear unfit to even be deputy prime minister," Mahathir said in his blog.

"One of Abdullah's more trusted lieutenants will take over and the new person won't take over as PM in 2010 due to a lack of experience so Abdullah will continue to rule until the next elections," he added.

Najib and opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim are now gripped in a bitter political brawl, with both facing serious misconduct accusations that could prevent them from vying for the country's top post.

Najib has been forced to deny accusations that he had an affair with a Mongolian woman murdered in 2006, while Anwar faces new allegations of sodomy -- the same charge he was jailed over a decade ago -- which he says are fabricated by the government.

Analysts are divided over the need for a quick handover, which could end political uncertainty that has hampered Malaysia's financial markets.

"A faster departure means a new leader who can start making changes to the country," said analyst Azmi Sharom.

Some, however, think the prime minister needs time to deliver on the promises that he was punished in the general elections for not delivering.

"He is putting a time frame with enough time so that he will have a visible legacy and be remembered with kindness," said pollster Ibrahim Suffian from the Merdeka Centre.

"Abdullah needs to ensure that the changes cannot be rolled back by any successor," he told AFP.

Agence France-Presse - 7/11/2008 7:46 AM GMT

Malaysia's PM to stand down in mid-2010

Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Thursday he would stand down in mid-2010, after facing repeated calls to quit since disastrous March elections.

Abdullah said he had struck an agreement with his deputy Najib Razak to hand over power but first wanted the opportunity to implement reforms and projects promised since he came to office five years ago.

"I have decided to hand over my position to Najib to take over as party president in June, in the middle of 2010," Abdullah told a press conference.

The president of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which leads the Barisan Nasional coalition, is traditionally prime minister.

"I have achieved an agreement with Najib that I will not lead the BN and UMNO in the next election... and also this means that a transition of power must take place," he said.

Abdullah had resisted calls to quit after general elections that handed the opposition unprecedented gains, and a fuel price hike that triggered public outrage and a series of protests.

"My wish is to strengthen the party and carry out the implementation of programmes and promises made at election time," he said as he stood alongside Najib and other senior UMNO leaders.

Najib pledged his support for Abdullah and urged the party to accept his decision and re-elect the premier in leadership elections in December where disgruntled UMNO elements had been expected to vent their feelings.

"Today starts the process of the transition of power in an orderly manner, following UMNO tradition, where he has given support for me to be his replacement," he said.

"I will continue to accept Abdullah as head of the party," he said.
"I urge members to support the candidacy of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as president of the party in the upcoming elections and urge party members to accept this."

Asked about his feelings, Abdullah jokingly pretend to cry and said: "I feel a little sadness, nothing more than that. I feel a sense of achievement, I have taken steps that are well received.
After a meeting of UMNO division and branch leaders -- whose support Abdullah needs to stay in power -- the embattled premier said he was confident the party would accept the long-range departure plans.

"The meeting gave me a standing ovation after this so I think it was well received," he said.
Political uncertainty since the elections, which has hurt Malaysia's financial markets, was heightened after opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he is poised to seize power with the help of government defectors.

Anwar and Najib are now gripped in an astonishing political brawl, with both facing serious misconduct accusations that could decide who will be the next prime minister.

Anwar faces new allegations of sodomy -- the same charge he was jailed over a decade ago -- which he says are fabricated by the government, and Najib has been forced to deny accusations that he had an affair with a Mongolian woman murdered in 2006.

Abdullah dismissed suggestions that the ongoing trial in that case -- a close friend of Najib has been charged with abetting the murder -- had played a role in the timing of his departure.
"I think that is separate. This is a decision at a party level," he said.

The opposition alliance on Thursday filed a motion in parliament seeking to hold a debate on the "loss of confidence" in the coalition government.

"The public has lost confidence in the integrity of the government," said Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who leads his Keadilan party.

"The people are now facing a huge crisis, having to bear the burden of expensive fuel, the higher cost of food and basic needs. The parliament should debate this motion," she said.

Agence France-Presse - 7/10/2008 1:34 PM GMT