The PKR insisted that fresh sodomy accusations were linked to the fact that Anwar Ibrahim has been in possession of evidence that proves the involvement of the current Police Chief and the Attorney General office in plots against Anwar.

Anwar is holed up at the Turkish Embassy

Related Link: Turkish Government could not give asylum to Anwar

The idea of a standoff with the Malaysian police from within the facades of the Turkish Embassy – though embarrassing for the Malaysian government – is to protect the life of the man seen as the future Prime Minister of Malaysia. The Party Keadilaan Rakyat (PKR) which has 32 seats in the Parliament said it feared for the life of Anwar Ibrahim and had decided that it was best for the popular leader to hole himself in the Turkish embassy for safety reasons.

It is obvious that this creates tension between Turkey and Malaysia but the aim of this tension is surely to get foreign governments involved in what Anwar is now calling a truncated accusation of sodomy against him. The accusation is believed to have come from a ‘mole’ who was working in the office of Anwar Ibrahim. The victim of the present sodomy accusation against Anwar is apparently well known to high officials of the government and of the ruling United Malay National Organization (Umno). Pictures of the mole with members of the government and of the Malay party were splattered on the Malaysia Today website on Sunday.

The PKR said Anwar will be at the Turkish embassy indefinitely which indicates there is an attempt by the opposition leader to force the government and the police altogether to abandon the sodomy case and to let Anwar go freely. It is an attempt to bend the police from aiding anti-Anwar elements in what is seen by many as a new plot to undermine his political career.

According to the Malaysia Insider website, Anwar’s choice of the Turkish Embassy for protection is not surprising. The website says that since his release from jail after the Federal Court overturned his conviction for sodomy in 2004, Anwar has struck a close relationship with Turkish Premier Reccep Erdogan.

It also added that the Opposition politician leaned heavily on strategists from Erdogan's AKP in planning Pakatan Rakyat's successful election campaign. “This assistance (from the Turks) was frowned upon by the government and since then, government officials have been suspicious of Erdogan's motives and of Anwar's link with the AKP,’ wrote the Malaysian Insider.

There seem to be surprise and consternation in the political circles of Malaysia with the fresh accusations of sodomy against Anwar, with many observers saying that the plotters – if it is a plot against Anwar – are losing the plot and that the Malaysians do not believe in such accusations anymore.

A sign of Anwar Ibrahim’s trust in the Islamic lead government in Turkey, a decision that can lead to a standoff between Malaysia and Turkey, is his seeking refuge at the Turkish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Questions arise on why not the American Embassy instead but the answers are certainly one of mistrust in the Bush administration, says observers.

The current Anwar Ibrahim versus Malaysian police standoff – that is easily misconstrued as Anwar versus Malaysian government – now involves Turkey and it goes beyond the capacity of the Malaysian authorities. It appears Anwar has grown wiser in not attempting any standoff on Malaysian ground since this would mean arrest and a long detention. Anwar being under the Turkish embassy’s protection make it difficult for the Malaysian authorities to engage the opposition leader directly.

In 1998, Anwar Ibrahim decided to face off with the police from his home in Damansara where he was arrested by a team of special police forces armed to the teeth. This lead to his conviction by a judiciary that was tainted with political intervention and it would be unthinkable for Anwar Ibrahim, his family and his supporters to go through such a demoralizing situation again.

Party Islam Se Malaysia (PAS) spiritual chief Nik Aziz Nik Mat said he believed the new accusations will hurt the opposition but he added that he thought it was yet another ploy to undermine Anwar Ibrahim. The PKR is firmly behind the leader while Malaysia’s Prime Minister dissociated his party and his government from the sodomy accusations.

The PM said his party and his government had nothing to do with the accusations and that it would not do anything to undermine or make life impossible for Anwar. However the whole episode is an embarassement for the Malaysian government since Anwar has now showed his total mistrust in the Malaysian police by being at the Turkish Embassy.

Anwar’s wife is expected to make a police report on the ‘evidence’ said to be in Anwar’s possession regarding the involvement of high ranking officials in a plot to undermine Anwar.

Turkish Ambassador summoned 

Turkish Ambassador Barlas Ozener will be summoned to Wisma Putra today to explain why PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was allowed to seek refuge in the embassy.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, who disclosed this to The Star, explained that Anwar did not qualify for any sort of international or diplomatic protection as he was being sought for a criminal investigation.

“If he is evading any sort of preventive law like the ISA, then it is a different matter. But he is being sought for an investigation involving sodomy, which is a crime under the Penal Code.

“When you run away from the law, it is not the same as facing some political persecution. As such, the embassy cannot grant him any sort of protection.

“We will ask the ambassador to reconsider (granting Anwar refuge) as it is meddling in Malaysia's internal affairs,” he said, adding that the Government also wanted to know why Anwar had gone to that particular embassy.

Police statement

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department Director Datuk Bakri Zinin said police, as a law enforcement agency, would investigate the case in a fair manner purely from the legal perspective and not from political angles.

“Police will conduct the investigation thoroughly on the victim and also the suspect but we need a bit of time to investigate the case,” he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur contingent police headquarters here.

He did not say how long the police would take to probe into the case.

“The question whether Anwar will be summoned to give statement depends on the outcome of the investigation,” he said.

Former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad said the parties and the people should let the government handle the case since it is a new accusation against Anwar. During the electoral campaign in March 2008 Mahathir said, in a video statement addressing a crowd, that Anwar was jailed in 1998 for no apparent reasons. He added that it was a time when he was Prime Minister and he had the power to just grab Anwar and throw him in jail.

The video was widely seen as a confession by Mahathir over the alleged crime his government commited against Anwar Ibrahim who was back then the deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. Anwar spent 6 years in jail before he was released in 2004.

In an interview to Malaysia Kini (http://malaysiavoices.blogspot.com/2008/03/exclusive-interview-with-dr-mahathir-we.html) Tun Mahathir said the following about the video in question: "I mean any stupid fool would have seen that it was a sarcastic remark made by me but they (opposition) make use of such things or they are not very sophisticated in the use of the media" he said.

Though this is far from being a retraction of what we can see on the video itself, it is fair to state that the video was widely used by the opposition to portray Anwar Ibrahim's innocence and this helped the Pakatan win many votes in the March 2008 elections.

Comments (13)

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what confession?
written by FC, June 30, 2008

During the electoral campaign in March 2008 Mahathir said, in a video statement addressing a crowd, that Anwar was jailed in 1998 for no apparent reasons. He added that it was a time when he was Prime Minister and he had the power to just grab Anwar and throw him in jail.

The video was widely seen as a confession by Mahathir over the alleged crime his government commited against Anwar Ibrahim who was back then the deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. Anwar spent 6 years in jail before he was released in 2004.

this is not confession, it was Mahathir doing his usual sarcastic talk. it's not widely seen a a confession either. only moron believe that was a confession.

pundey
written by dinosors, June 30, 2008

of course it was not a confession..mahathir was just telling the people vote pakatan and do not vote BN...only morons see others as morons indeed...pundey ko FC

Who will believe this horseshit?
written by Giga Solo, June 30, 2008

Does anyone actually believe this crap? Even those who don't have access to alternative media sources will view this with caution.

But the similarities with Zimbabwe (opposition leader seeking refuge in foreign embassy) are very worrying. Hope this doesn't turn violent.

Stupid writer
written by Megat Musa, June 30, 2008

"The video was widely seen as a confession by Mahathir over the alleged crime his government commited against Anwar Ibrahim who was back then the deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. Anwar spent 6 years in jail before he was released in 2004. "

Mahathir was being his usual sarcastic self, you moron!!! Only morons like this writer would believe that the statement by Mahathir was a confession...

morons
written by dinosors, June 30, 2008

Megat Musa...moron. u read by ur ass...with glasses in one hole. thats y u c it as only morons c it.

relax
written by Kazi Mahmood, June 30, 2008

yo ppl...no fighting pls. Mahathir cannot retract what he said in the video and soon he will bow to reality...it would have been better for him to shut up rather than speak in the video. To those who want to believe in Mahathir's sarcasm..I can say let it be. Here, we are at peace with our beliefs and Allah bless!

So don't come here to fight each other and if you really believe Mahathir is sarcastic in everything then pls show respect to others!

To Writer - Make Some Research First
written by Mr Belimbing, July 03, 2008

Dr. Mahathir already denied about it. He said it just a sarcastic remarks!

The writer should do his research first before writing the story. Totally biased and pro-Anwar.

p.s. I wish I bookmarked the newspaper articles about this.

regards,

Mr Belimbing
@mrbelimbing.blogspot.com

...
written by apanama, July 03, 2008

This is exactly the category of MORONS who idol-worship Anwar Ibrahim and totally believe his Moronic Verses. Even a hardcore IDIOT would understand what Dr.Mahathir said in his sarcastic remarks about Anwar Ibrahim long before the last General Election.
As DESPERADOS do desperate things to survive but PKR and Anwar Ibrahim's campaign machinery just did what they know best - DECEPTION.
They have, to a certain extent, confused so called 'writers' and political analyst in buying the 'Confession' cookie.
WAKE UP LAH ... You Morons! Dont continue to cheat and deceive the people, and allow yourself to be penetrated from da back.

Noob!
written by ZSBS, July 03, 2008

"Former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad said the parties and the people should let the government handle the case since it is a new accusation against Anwar. During the electoral campaign in March 2008 Mahathir said, in a video statement addressing a crowd, that Anwar was jailed in 1998 for no apparent reasons. He added that it was a time when he was Prime Minister and he had the power to just grab Anwar and throw him in jail.

The video was widely seen as a confession by Mahathir over the alleged crime his government commited against Anwar Ibrahim who was back then the deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. Anwar spent 6 years in jail before he was released in 2004. "

rofl.. the funniest thing I ever heard.. I doubt this writer carry any weight in his writing. The write is probably 18 years old teenager who just completed his high school and have no idea on how sarcastic dr. Mahathir can be, even during his time. LOL! What a noob..

links
written by Kazi Mahmood, July 03, 2008

Hi people...give everybody a chance. the fact that the pro-Mahathir messages are left intact here is that we beleive in the right of everybody to voice their views. If the article mentioned about the video in which Mahathir spoke 'sarcastically' then be it. We do not have any thing to support what you people are saying here. Do anyone of you have a link where Mahathir said he did not really mean what he said in the video? We do have the video link but now to make you people happy, please send us the link to Mahathir statement in which he retracts what he said in the video. fair game?

Thanks. Allah bless.

Get your facts right
written by tombraw, July 03, 2008

Sorry Kazi, not everybody is interested in political siding like you do. The writer is got his facts wrong, and that reflects his quality of journalism and the reliability of the publication/website he represents. Bad reporting is bad reporting. There's no excuse.

addendum
written by Kazi Mahmood, July 03, 2008

We have published additional paragraph with the article. Please refer to it and get the satisfaction that you all are seeking for with the article. Thanks and come again!

...
written by Anjang Aki, July 03, 2008

I already got penetrated in the back with the recent fuel rise. So this sodomy case is no big case for me. I hope I won't be sodomized again with an NGV price hike since I just spent over 5k for the tanks.
So ppl, whoever can solve the economic problem we are facing, be it Anwar, Najib, Pak Lah, Mahathir, sodomist or no sodomist, anyone, I give my thumbs to you man.

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