JUNE 29 — In the matter of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the government of Malaysia, the stakes just got that much higher.
Expect a no holds barred battle now that he is facing, yet again, allegations of sodomy, after being cleared of similar charges which he had always contended was trumped up by former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad.
His response to the fresh allegations is likely to be swift and fast.
The best way for Anwar to head off any criminal charges will be to work overtime to push for a collapse of the current administration.
He will call any police action an act of conspiracy, as he has already started to.
The target of his conspiracy claims this time were also players in his 1998 prosecution.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan were both accused of misconduct by Anwar in a statement issued late last night as he huddled with supporters.
"The report has been organised by interested parties to attack me in retaliation for evidence I have recently obtained implicating IGP and the AG in misconduct including the fabrication of evidence," said Anwar.
The de facto Opposition leader and "prime minister-in-waiting" is expected to use much of the same playbook he used in response to the charges of corruption and sodomy he faced in 1998.
So expect street demonstrations if the case gets to the point where he gets arrested.
Expect all of the Opposition parties to rally behind him.
He may also try to use the allegations to appeal to Barisan Nasional MPs to immediately cross over to the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.
In the battle for public sympathy and sentiment, he had a much tougher foe in Dr Mahathir.
He will now paint a picture of Abdullah Badawi's much weaker administration as a government desperate to hold back the inevitable tide, of trying to hold on power at all cost.
And he will have the full force of an Opposition coalition which has never been stronger behind him.
The only way for the authorities and the government to avoid such a scenario again will be to conduct a thorough, professional probe into the allegations.
The result of any investigation will have to be conclusive and credible, especially when presented with a public which has grown distrustful of the authorities.
That will be an uphill task.
Reactions from Pakatan Rakyat partnersTeo Nie Ching, DAP MP for Serdang:
“Nothing much I can say, I just hope the police can carry out the necessary investigations as fast as possible. Some people say that this could be revenge from Najib or Mahathir, but I don't want to speculate. This is a difficult time for his family, especially Datin Seri Wan Azizah. I know Nurul personally, we talk in Parliament, we're not so close but we're friends. I hope they can get through it.
“As for whether it's true, I'm a lawyer, I trust in evidence. No one is guilty until proven otherwise. What Anwar has done or not done, eventually he still needs to answer to God. Whether he is indeed a homosexual or not is not important to me, as long as he can do his job.”
Khalid Samad, PAS MP for Shah Alam:
“Actually, I was in Pekan (Pahang) last night when I received the SMS. But I received conflicting reports. One said that it was his PA; one said it was one of the wardens in Sg Buloh. Both are rather dubious because of the timing.
“It's a sign that BN is increasingly desperate. They've run out of ideas. They're looking for ways to prevent the inevitable swing from BN to PR to prevent some of the BN MPs who have expressed interest and are convinced of the need for change. They are putting Anwar in this position to prevent him, at the very least, from being able to contest in any upcoming elections.
“They are trying to divert the attention from more pressing issues like the Altantuya case, Raja Petra's statement, which are more central than all these other issues. These (allegations) seem to fit the bill.
“Lastly, they want to try to come up with an accusation that will cause the (Pakatan Rakyat) coalition partners to cringe and keep a safe distance between us and Anwar but that is not going to work.
“This is a sign of desperation and the inevitable downfall of BN, they realise they can't pull PAS to join Umno, they realise they can't prevent the Sabah BN MPs from switching loyalties.”
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, PKR Seri Setia State Assemblyman and formerly Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's private secretary:
“We've seen this 10 years ago. It's the same old thing, which has clearly proven untrue and we're clearly confident of the outcome.
“People are getting desperate. The government is desperate because of some of the big things that Anwar is going to announce and they are panicking and trying to discredit Anwar.
“Again, we don't know what the government wants or what effect they want to have from this action. It remains to be seen. But the people are defiant and will rally round at all cost.”
Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, PAS MP for Kuala Selangor:
“I was there (with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim). That's why I slept at 5am. I was en route to JB when they stopped me and asked me to come along.
“With all the political backdrop that is coming heavily on them (BN), the latest being Raja Petra Kamaruddin's statutory declaration; the upcoming one million people march in PJ, Amcorp; and with the direct irresponsible and reckless fuel hikes; withdrawing RM13.7 billion on fuel subsidies; all these scenarios look like they (the BN) have got to go back to their old script – with different players or actors – they must know that the rakyat cannot stomach this.
“This is my impression of them. Never will the rakyat be able to accept this, as was forced on them in 1998, all these sodomy allegations. But looks like this time it is better because that guy was working with Datuk Seri. The whole, entire story will be told by Datuk Seri later at the press conference.
“My take is that this action is too desperate. I can't think of why they have to put it this way. They have got internal problems in the BN – MCA, Gerakan. This is no new thinking. They are going back to an old plot, which is no longer exciting for the rakyat. And just when they've done not too badly by trying to put in place the anti-corruption commission and the judiciary... it looked like they were finally listening to the rakyat. But coming out with this ...”
Malaysian Insider
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