Malaysia went to extraordinary length in Turkey to support the case against Anwar but as expected, the battle of words continued between Malaysia and its biggest economic partner the United States of America over the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy allegations. This time Malaysia boasted that about its powers to shrug off the US from its back in no uncertain terms.
"After a certain point, if they keep interfering with the internal affairs of other countries, then the US has got to answer to the big question of responsibility and whether they have the jurisdiction to do that, as powerful as they may be," Rais Yatim, Malaysia’s Foreign Affairs Minister said.
It is with a seeming vengeance that Rais Yatim attacked the US in Singapore on the sideline of the recently concluded Asean meeting in the tiny country state. The stage was set for a battle of influence by Rais Yatim who spilled the beans against US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
In different circumstances, the anti-US stance taken by Malaysia would have been cheered by the entire Muslim world but when it is Anwar Ibrahim, the most popular Malaysian figure inside and outside the country, the cold shudder by Muslim nations is felt.
Malaysia went out in full length with its Ambassador in Turkey claiming that the Anwar Ibrahim police case was purely a matter of law, denying it was a political issue. This shows how hurtful it is for the moment for the Malaysians to deal such blows to the opposition leader.
Reactions from Turkey are mild, with many people believing there is a repetition of the first sodomy case against Anwar Ibrahim in 1998.
Anwar still have the moral support of the Turkish government – though much of it is in private – and this may have been the reason for the Malaysian Ambassador in Ankara to make the statement regarding Anwar’s case to the Turkish people.
In an interview with the Anatolia news agency, Anuar said the Malaysian government clearly demonstrated that the issue was entirely a legal one. When reminded of the speculations that some circles in Malaysia argue that Anwar is innocent and a plot had been hatched against him, the ambassador said there was no conspiracy and that the issue was taken up in accordance with the principle of the rule of law.
The US dismisses the point that Malaysia is doing everything according to the principles of the rule of law. The comments on this issue from Condoleezza Rice offended the Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister.
Rice Thursday urged Malaysia to ensure a "transparent" investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations against Anwar -- the same charge that saw him jailed a decade ago.
"Whatever others say from outside Malaysia is irrelevant. Ultimately it is the decision of Malaysians that will be counted in this case," Rais Yatim told AFP.
A close study of the situation in Malaysia shows a rather ballooning popularity for Anwar Ibrahim after the second sodomy allegation. Support is swelling for the PKR even in once forbidden areas such as Johor, Malacca and Pahang where the Barisan National (BN) did better than in other states.
"Anwar may have many friends overseas to prop him up for his image and for his present situation but Malaysia has its own laws and domestic constitution," he said.
"The US has got this larger-than-life image in assuming the position as policemen of the world. They want to project this all along but they have to stop interfering and making comments such as these," the Malaysian minister said.
The way Anwar Ibrahim was arrested and kept in jail for one night sufficed to inflame his supporters and send a wave of sympathy towards Anwar even from within the BN and among its supporters. It also discredited the Malaysian government’s image internationally.
There are fears that the Malaysian government will not be able to contain Anwar from continuing to cause more fracases to the reputation of the regime.
On Malaysian blogs, Anwar Ibrahim is the most popular political figure with almost every comment regarding the sodomy allegation turning against the regime of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. This was seen before during the 1998 allegations and court cases and the result was a tight electoral race in 1999 which was won by Tun Mahathir and the BN with a dented majority.
Anwar’s presence during the March 2008 General Elections had a devastating effect on the BN which lost its prized 2/3 majority and is now in danger of losing control of the Parliament if Anwar Ibrahim plans to take power becomes reality.
In the midst of the growing impatience among the public to see the cross-over of BN MP’s to the opposition to form a new government, came the sodomy allegation. It did not go down well with the public because the story was a repeat of the 1998 fracas that almost caused Malaysia to lose its reputation of being a peaceful and progressive nation.
Apparently failing to win sufficient support locally, Malaysia is pushing for its reputation on the international arena, battling the US and its accusations but taking in more accusation of grotesque behavior from international figures across the world.
The support enjoyed by Anwar does not stop with the local public alone but extends to a long list of personalities that has vouched their support on the integrity and innocence of Anwar Ibrahim. This is a big embarrassment for the government which seems more and more entangled in a web of self-destruction with the second sodomy allegations against its biggest opponent in the country.
It is possible, say supporters of Anwar Ibrahim; the former Deputy Prime Minister and once Prime Minister designated that the government is trying to slap the US on the sodomy allegations in order to gain support among Muslims in Malaysia. This amid the perception that the Muslims will be anti-American at all cost and that Anwar, seen by the government as an America stooge, will lose support and will fall automatically, silenced by the opposition of Muslims against his friendship towards the US.
This strategy gained momentum in December 1999 during the Elections but it did not prevent the opposition from making massive gains, which they eventually parted with in 2004 when Abdullah Badawi drove the opposition away from almost every corner of Malaysia.
Will it work this time? It is clear from responses in the country that the anti-American stance will not result in a loss of support for Anwar. Thus it is not presumptuous to claim that the anti-Anwar bashing has only just started and that more is to come.
In the mean time, the Malaysian public and the foreign observers will have to sit back and fill their plate with peanuts in order to watch the second round of what many are calling ‘Liwat Gate’ or ‘Sodomy Gate’ in Malaysia.
Written by Ali Cordoba
source: WorldFutures
"After a certain point, if they keep interfering with the internal affairs of other countries, then the US has got to answer to the big question of responsibility and whether they have the jurisdiction to do that, as powerful as they may be," Rais Yatim, Malaysia’s Foreign Affairs Minister said.
It is with a seeming vengeance that Rais Yatim attacked the US in Singapore on the sideline of the recently concluded Asean meeting in the tiny country state. The stage was set for a battle of influence by Rais Yatim who spilled the beans against US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
In different circumstances, the anti-US stance taken by Malaysia would have been cheered by the entire Muslim world but when it is Anwar Ibrahim, the most popular Malaysian figure inside and outside the country, the cold shudder by Muslim nations is felt.
Malaysia went out in full length with its Ambassador in Turkey claiming that the Anwar Ibrahim police case was purely a matter of law, denying it was a political issue. This shows how hurtful it is for the moment for the Malaysians to deal such blows to the opposition leader.
Reactions from Turkey are mild, with many people believing there is a repetition of the first sodomy case against Anwar Ibrahim in 1998.
Anwar still have the moral support of the Turkish government – though much of it is in private – and this may have been the reason for the Malaysian Ambassador in Ankara to make the statement regarding Anwar’s case to the Turkish people.
In an interview with the Anatolia news agency, Anuar said the Malaysian government clearly demonstrated that the issue was entirely a legal one. When reminded of the speculations that some circles in Malaysia argue that Anwar is innocent and a plot had been hatched against him, the ambassador said there was no conspiracy and that the issue was taken up in accordance with the principle of the rule of law.
The US dismisses the point that Malaysia is doing everything according to the principles of the rule of law. The comments on this issue from Condoleezza Rice offended the Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister.
Rice Thursday urged Malaysia to ensure a "transparent" investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations against Anwar -- the same charge that saw him jailed a decade ago.
"Whatever others say from outside Malaysia is irrelevant. Ultimately it is the decision of Malaysians that will be counted in this case," Rais Yatim told AFP.
A close study of the situation in Malaysia shows a rather ballooning popularity for Anwar Ibrahim after the second sodomy allegation. Support is swelling for the PKR even in once forbidden areas such as Johor, Malacca and Pahang where the Barisan National (BN) did better than in other states.
"Anwar may have many friends overseas to prop him up for his image and for his present situation but Malaysia has its own laws and domestic constitution," he said.
"The US has got this larger-than-life image in assuming the position as policemen of the world. They want to project this all along but they have to stop interfering and making comments such as these," the Malaysian minister said.
The way Anwar Ibrahim was arrested and kept in jail for one night sufficed to inflame his supporters and send a wave of sympathy towards Anwar even from within the BN and among its supporters. It also discredited the Malaysian government’s image internationally.
There are fears that the Malaysian government will not be able to contain Anwar from continuing to cause more fracases to the reputation of the regime.
On Malaysian blogs, Anwar Ibrahim is the most popular political figure with almost every comment regarding the sodomy allegation turning against the regime of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. This was seen before during the 1998 allegations and court cases and the result was a tight electoral race in 1999 which was won by Tun Mahathir and the BN with a dented majority.
Anwar’s presence during the March 2008 General Elections had a devastating effect on the BN which lost its prized 2/3 majority and is now in danger of losing control of the Parliament if Anwar Ibrahim plans to take power becomes reality.
In the midst of the growing impatience among the public to see the cross-over of BN MP’s to the opposition to form a new government, came the sodomy allegation. It did not go down well with the public because the story was a repeat of the 1998 fracas that almost caused Malaysia to lose its reputation of being a peaceful and progressive nation.
Apparently failing to win sufficient support locally, Malaysia is pushing for its reputation on the international arena, battling the US and its accusations but taking in more accusation of grotesque behavior from international figures across the world.
The support enjoyed by Anwar does not stop with the local public alone but extends to a long list of personalities that has vouched their support on the integrity and innocence of Anwar Ibrahim. This is a big embarrassment for the government which seems more and more entangled in a web of self-destruction with the second sodomy allegations against its biggest opponent in the country.
It is possible, say supporters of Anwar Ibrahim; the former Deputy Prime Minister and once Prime Minister designated that the government is trying to slap the US on the sodomy allegations in order to gain support among Muslims in Malaysia. This amid the perception that the Muslims will be anti-American at all cost and that Anwar, seen by the government as an America stooge, will lose support and will fall automatically, silenced by the opposition of Muslims against his friendship towards the US.
This strategy gained momentum in December 1999 during the Elections but it did not prevent the opposition from making massive gains, which they eventually parted with in 2004 when Abdullah Badawi drove the opposition away from almost every corner of Malaysia.
Will it work this time? It is clear from responses in the country that the anti-American stance will not result in a loss of support for Anwar. Thus it is not presumptuous to claim that the anti-Anwar bashing has only just started and that more is to come.
In the mean time, the Malaysian public and the foreign observers will have to sit back and fill their plate with peanuts in order to watch the second round of what many are calling ‘Liwat Gate’ or ‘Sodomy Gate’ in Malaysia.
Written by Ali Cordoba
source: WorldFutures
No comments:
Post a Comment