SAVE MALAYSIA. ENSURE JUSTICE FOR ANWAR IBRAHIM AND THE RAKYAT.
The recent developments to implicate the de facto leader of Parti Keadilan Rakyat and Pakatan Rakyat, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in a sodomy charge is of deep concern to us when it is in the midst of a country faced with both economic crisis and political transistion.
The report made by Saiful Bhukari that he was sodomised by Datuk Seri Anwar, thus raises more questions and doubts to the report. The doubts are even much more strengthened where Datuk Seri Anwar has recently stated that he had evidence that inspector-general of police Musa Hassan and attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail were involved in misconduct, including fabrication of evidence in the cases launched against him after his sacking from the government in 1998.
The allegations that were made against Datuk Seri Anwar on Saturday, June 28, 2008 seems to be a round two, a replay of the events which transpired in 1998 when he was sacked from the office of the Deputy Prime Minister, jailed and beaten, and then charged and convicted by a kangaroo court and where he was only set free after serving more than 6 years in prison.
Though we expect the police to carry out a fair investigation to the report, we are concerned as it seems to be politically motivated. The assurances made by the CID Chief, Mohd. Bakri Zinin, does not ease the doubts created within the context of an imminent political crisis of the current BN government being toppled by the Pakatan Rakyat.
The need for transparency and accountability is made even more crucial by the allegation by Anwar Ibrahim that he has evidence in hand implicating the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General. The IGP figured in Anwar Round 1 (he was then SAC Musa Hassan )
The March 8 tsunami elections revealed clearly that the rakyat wanted a change in governance. 5 states are now in the control of the opposition. The continued infighting within UMNO and its component parties in the Barisan National, has further eroded the rakyat’s confidence.
Since March, there has been a series of revelations of extensive scandals by BN leaders and controls over judiciary and the mechanisms for accountability and transparency. Morgan Stanley has indicated that some HYPERLINK “http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_bde92f41-cb73c03a-c8c7d600-57c8d6b6″ RM330 billion has been dissipated from Malaysia through corruption and that has not taken a priority to be dealt with by the government.
In April, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi announced l that he would set up an independent Judicial Appointments Commission to recommend suitable candidates for the Bench to ensure that there will be independence of the Judiciary. Under the current system, the decision is left to the Chief Justice and Prime Minister. But this has stalled with increased resistance from the ruling elite.
The unresolved murder of Altantuya Shaaribuu from Mongolia and expressions of increased evidence of the link of Deputy Prime Minister and his wife to the murder has further challenged the credibility of the government and the judiciary.
The shocking fuel price hike whose bite has yet to really sink into the purse strings of the helpless rakyat has already thrown the daily living off balance. While the prices of all other goods are spiraling on a daily basis, we have yet to get any acknowledgment of crisis-concern from the government. The rakyat meanwhile continue to suffer under the yoke of all the political battles being fought by individuals and party who are bent on power, greed and self interest.
These developments have led to an intense political challenge and the ruling party’s ability to hold on to its corrupt power and control.
The nation is challenged. The sexual proclivities of an individual, whether real or fantasized, do not seem to matter when the country is facing a financial crisis and the rakyat is suffering. We believe this is a form of diversion to detract the focus of the ailing ruling BN government and its infighting for power.
We condemn the warning giving by the CID chief of the Police force over assemblies. We remind him that freedom of expression and freedom of assembly are some of the fundamental rights of people that ensure genuine democracy is upheld and practiced. The police should and must not create fear nor restrain people gathering together in peaceful assembly to express their response collectively to the developments taking place in the country.
We began building a solid foundation for the democracy we want for our country on March 8th. That was a journey we embarked upon for ourselves, our nation, our future. It was for freedom, justice and democracy. That journey cannot be stopped with threats and manipulations by the ruling elite on the leadership of the opposition parties, in particular Anwar Ibrahim, in whom lies the confidence of the opposition and of the rakyat. We call on Malaysians to stand firm to the clarion call of the 12th. general elections and to move forward to save Malaysia.
Signed by:
Dr. Irene Fernandez
Tenaganita
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