Pemimpin turun Kepadang Ydp Kawasan Ziarah Nelayan
Mendengar cerita Mangsa di gigit kera yang terima 12 jahitan
Penyelia PAR Permas ,Ziarah Warga Emas
Ziarah Warga Emas
Muslimat Kawasan Bersemangat ziarah dari Rumah ke Rumah
Pada 08.01.2012 Pas kawasan Pasir Gudang telah turun ke Padang ,di bawah Lajanah Kebajikan sampaikan sumbangan di Kg Pasir Gudang Baru ,seramai 15 keluarga menerima barang keperluan Harian ,Program yang bermula jam 9.30 pagi berakhir 12 tengahari,turut bersama Ydp Kwasan ,Dewan Muslimat dan Dewan Pemuda.
Program Pelancaran Manifesto Pakatan Rakyat Negeri Sembilan disabotaj Faiz Abdullah (wartawan Harakah)
GEMAS - Program 'Pelancaran Manifesto Pakatan Rakyat Negeri Sembilan' yang dijadualkan berlangsung pada Ahad, 15 Januari, 08.00 malam ini di Dataran Rakyat, Gemas, Negeri Sembilan dikatakan disabotaj oleh pihak tertentu, kata Yang DiPertua PAS Tampin, Zakaria Khalim.
Menurut Zakaria tiga Ahli PAS Tampin termasuk Ketua Penerangan Zainil Subuh melakukan kerja-kerja menampal poster ceramah pada malam Isnin 9 Januari, di sepanjang jalan dari pekan Gemencheh sehingga ke pekan Gemas.
"Walaubagaimanapun dalam perjalanan pulang ke Gemencheh semula mereka mendapati beberapa orang sedang mengoyakkan poster tersebut.Seterusnya Zainal dan dua lagi ahli kita menghalang tindakan mereka dan tercetus pergaduhan kecil.
"Kedua-dua pihak membuat laporan polis dan pihak polis menahan Zainal dan dua ahli PAS atas alasan mengganggu kerja-kerja menanggal poster.
"Seterusnya didapati mereka adalah Penguatkuasa Majlis Daerah Tampin. Saya difahamkan mereka tidak perkenalkan diri masing-masing kepada ahli PAS dan ini punca Zainal dan sahabat beliau mengganggap mereka adalah orang-orang Umno untuk sabotaj program kita", kata Zakaria.
Zakaria berkata ketiga-tiga ahli PAS telah dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Majistret Tampin pada 10 Januari dan akan ditahan reman selama tiga hari.
"Justeru itu sebagai tanda sokongan kepada pengorbanan tiga ahli PAS ini yang meringkuk dalam lokap polis dan sebagai bukti rakyat sudah bangkit untuk membuat perubahan, saya menyeru seluruh rakyat Negeri Sembilan hadir ramai-ramai ke Program Ceramah Rapat Rakyat ini.
"Rakyat Johor di sempadan Gemas, Negeri Sembilan dan rakyat Melaka di sempadan Gemencheh, Negeri Sembilan juga dialu-alukan hadir untuk mengetahui perkembangan terbaru isu politik nasional.
"Kehadiran Ketua Pembangkang Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim ke Gemas ini merupakan antara penampilan paling awal beliau di khalayak umum dan kali pertama selepas beliau dibebaskan oleh Mahkamah pada 09 Januari.
"Dua lagi pemimpin Nasional Gergasi yang akan hadir ialah Timbalan Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu dan Setiausaha Agung DAP, Lim Guan Eng", kata Zakaria.
Pesuruhjaya PAS Negeri Sembilan, Mohd Taufek Abdul Ghani pula berkata tindakan pihak Majlis Daerah Tampin mengoyakkan poster program itu adalah satu tindakan terdesak dan untuk menggagalkan program tersebut.
"Mereka sudah menjadi alat Umno dan panas punggung apabila kemaraan Pakatan Rakyat di salah satu kubu kuat Umno meresahkan mereka.
"Saya yakin pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 nanti kita mampu menawan Negeri Sembilan dan usaha itu akan lahir di Gemas pada 15 Januari ini.
"Walaupun mereka cuba sabotaj usaha kami tetapi ini tidak akan patahkan semangat kami. Lawan tetap lawan!", tegas Mohd Taufek yang juga ADUN Paroi.
We all know that regimes use “bark on” intelligence to manipulate long-term favorable outcomes.
On Monday, we saw this unfold in Malaysia when opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was acquitted of the sex charge despite the fact that he would certainly continue to be a thorn for the ruling UMNO-led coalition government.
Anwar’s potential to embarrass the Barisan Nasional government coupled with the government’s hysteria and fears mean that the father- of-six is better off in jail or at least convicted.
But this did not happen as widely anticipated. Although I am happy that Anwar is a free man, this freedom simply cannot be a political decision used to hoodwink the people.
Notwithstanding prime minister Najib Tun Razak’s hawkish leadership, I hope this is not another calculated measure to stem huge losses for the government at the next general polls which is widely expected to be held in March this year.
To put it simply, we cannot have Anwar walking free today only to be found guilty at the Court of Appeal. And by which time, the election would be over.
The sex trial has been dubious from the very beginning. It was riddled with inconsistencies and contradictions. Not only was Anwar denied crucial documents but the DNA samples, evidence the prosecution heavily relied on, was tainted.
We saw the government’s manipulation in the circulation of Anwar’s so-called sex videos to scar his image while ruling politicians took pot-shots at him to further tarnish his reputation.
He was labeled as a stooge for the Americans, pro-Chinese and even portrayed as a Jewish agent. If this is not enough, his family was also threatened.
This was also extended to Anwar colleagues and other opposition politicians who were hit with allegations of corruption. These dirty tactics were manufactured to weaken the Pakatan Rakyat leadership, particularly in Selangor.
The government had ample help from the local media which did not hesitate to demonize Anwar and the opposition coalition partners.
The Malaysian media has become a powerful ally of official lies spewed out by the UMNO-led ruling government. It’s almost like the American media which, smitten by gaffes, apple polishes the nation’s actual problems like its desperate poor and economic disaster.
Savagely single-minded UMNO politicians must however understand that arbitrary decisions and smear campaigns would not work anymore.
It’s slash-and-burn politics coupled with the potent right-wing news media have been rejected by the rakyat, who are geared to throw out the Barisan Nasional government at the next election.
This is evident in the thousands who turned up for Anwar’s rallies during his recent nationwide tour and at the High Court this morning.
Maybe Najib and UMNO know they cannot continue to be inspired by the Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels who said that “if you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it”.
Likewise they must understand that Malaysians would not translate Anwar’s acquittal this morning to mean the judiciary is independent. They can see through the shadow play by Najib to regain the confidence of the people.
Today’s judgment is a victory for the people. It demonstrates the power of the people.
Let’s exercise that power at the ballot boxes to, once and for all, overthrow a corrupt and dictatorial government.
Malaysia: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim Acquitted Court Finds DNA Evidence Possibly Tainted
(New York, January 9, 2012) – On January 9, 2012, a Kuala Lumpur court acquitted Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim of consensual sodomy.
"Anwar Ibrahim was acquitted on a charge that should have never been brought in the first place," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Hopefully the verdict sends a message to the Malaysian government to put this matter to rest."
Anwar had been charged with having consensual sexual relations with Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azland, a former volunteer aide to Anwar, on June 26, 2008. Saiful originally filed a complaint of forcible sodomy, but the police determined that the 60-year-old Anwar, plagued with back problems, could not have sexually assaulted the healthy 23-year-old Saiful. The criminal trial began in February 2010.
High Court Judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah said his decision was based on concerns that DNA evidence brought by the prosecution was tainted.
"The court at this stage could not with 100 percent certainty exclude the possibility that the [DNA] sample is not compromised," Judge Zabidin told the courtroom. "Therefore it is not safe to rely on the [DNA] sample. There is no evidence to corroborate [the charge]."
The case against Anwar was politically motivated and plagued with irregularities, Human Rights Watch said. During the trial, the prosecution refused to turn over key evidence as required by the Malaysian criminal procedure code, including its witness list and witness statements, notes by the doctors who examined Saiful at Kuala Lumpur Hospital, pharmacists' worksheets and notes on DNA testing and analysis, and closed-circuit television recordings from the condominium guardhouse where the alleged sodomy took place. The Kuala Lumpur hospital report, authorized by three doctors, found "no conclusive clinical findings suggestive of penetration to the anus."
Human Rights Watch reiterated its call for Malaysia to revoke its colonial-era law criminalizing consensual same-sex relations.
Anwar, a former deputy prime minister and finance minister, is credited with forming the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (People's Pact) coalition. This is the second time Anwar has been charged with sodomy. He spent six years in prison before his previous conviction was overturned in 2004.
By Sakmongkol AK47 | 10 January 2012 Anwar has been acquitted. I don't wish to douse the flames of enthusiasm that was evident on the faces and response from his supporters. Family members and friends were elated. I am watching out for possible landmines. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Anwar said, this present case [...]
By Simon Roughneen, Correspondent | January 9, 2012 The Christian Science Monitor Monday’s surprise acquittal of Malaysia’s opposition leader in a sodomy trial that many viewed as politically motivated eases the prospect of unrest in the multi-ethnic country, one of southeast Asia’s largest tourist draws. The potential for trouble was highlighted by three small explosions [...]
By Dr Lim Teck Ghee | 10 January 2012 Anwar Ibrahim, a key page in the country's political history has been turned. Immediate winners are of course Anwar, his family, his team of lawyers, and the opposition. For Anwar, it was not only exoneration of the sexual smear charges brought against him; it was also [...]
By Ooi Kee Beng | January 10, 2012 The Malaysian Insider JAN 10 — The High Court verdict on Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial must be seen as a big triumph for the three-member opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat (PR). One of the biggest challenges that it has in trying to win federal power is to convince [...]
By Farish A. Noor | January 09, 2012 The Malaysian Insider JAN 9 — It has been a rather long time since I have had any reason to be thankful or optimistic about where Malaysia is heading, but today I allowed myself a small helping of optimism (and I hasten to add it was a [...]
By JAMES HOOKWAY | JANUARY 10, 2012 WSJ KUALA LUMPUR—His unexpected acquittal on sodomy charges Monday frees Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim finally to look past his trial and on toward the country’s coming national election. The verdict by Judge Zabidin Diah at the High Court could also warm this key Muslim nation’s relations with [...]
By Dr Ooi Kee Beng | 9 January 2012 Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore BBC News To the great surprise of many of his followers, Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was found not guilty of the sodomy charge brought against him by a former aide. High Court judge Zabidin Mohamad Diah declared him innocent [...]
By Kee Thuan Chye | Jan 9, 2012 Malaysiakini Anwar Ibrahim is free! Many people did not expect he would be acquitted by the High Court judge presiding over his Sodomy II trial. In fact, the situation looked dire for Anwar when the judge ruled in May that Anwar's alleged victim, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, [...]
By John Berthelsen | 9 JANUARY 2012 asiasentinel Now what? As thousands of supporters cheered outside the court, Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was found not guilty of sodomy charges by High Court Judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah, who said "the court cannot be 100 percent certain that DNA was not contaminated." Under Malaysia's system of [...]
— The Malaysian Insider Jan 09, 2012 JAN 9 — This was a verdict out of the left field. There was jubilation in the ranks of the opposition and the recrimination has already started in Umno and Perkasa. In this politically polarised nation, The Malaysian Insider polls who can walk away from this case considered [...]
Saya merasakan bahawa jumlah jam yang ada pada satu hari itu terlalu kurang untuk sempurnakan kerja-kerja dan tugas-tugas yang perlu dilakukan. Tapi takkanlah nak tambah lagi tempoh 24 jam itu menjadi 34 jam?
Tuhan sudah jadikan 24 jam cukup untuk buat kerja, rehat dan tidur, ada waktu solatnya untuk semua manusia.
Hanya manusia perlulah mengaturkan kerja-buatnya agar 24 jam itu dapat digunakan dengan baik.
Kalau dulu memang saya perlukan 8 jam untuk tidur supaya badan betul-betul rasa sihat tetapi 8 jam itu kini sukar dicari. Maka saya gunakan 4 jam, maknanya, separuh dari masa yang dahulu itu, memanglah terasa letih sedikit, tetapi dengan mengurangkan waktu tidur, banyak tugas-tugas dan tanggungjawab dapat disempurnakan dalam tempoh 24 jam itu.
Tetapi ada juga ketikanya tugas-tugas tidak begitu banyak dalam satu-satu hari, maka saya gunakan lebih sedikit masa untuk rehat dan tidur sehingga 8 jam.
Rata-rata, jika kita aturkan betul-betul masa kita, apa yang nak kita lakukan dalam tempoh 24 jam itu adalah mencukupi.
Banyak masa yang tak berfaedah kita kena kurangkan. Masa berborak kosong, kurangkan. Masa yang dibuang di kedai-kedai kopi, kurangkan, bukan tak boleh, ada masanya masa di kedai kopi itu penting, ada perbincangan serius, ada pertemuan penting dan sebagainya, tetap kalau semata-mata nak berborak kosong tanpa tujuan, kurangkan.
Masa untuk exercise adalah penting, beri masa untuk beriadah, bukan 8 jam sehari, tetapi dalam seminggu tu, berilah masa satu dua jam, terutamanya berjalan kaki, itu penting untuk kesihatan serta kekuatan otot; tapi kadang-kadang ada lebih baik masa untuk berjalan kaki itu digunakan untuk menyampaikan risalah dari rumah ke rumah; exercise dapat dan kerja politik juga boleh diselesaikan.
Untuk berjuang, kesihatan itu penting. Jadi kawan-kawan, buanglah tabiat merokok; tidak ada gunanya; bukan sahaja kesihatan menjadi rosak bahkan membazirkan wang; dan pembaziran itu adalah saudara rapat dengan syaitan!
Untuk perjalanan ke tempat-tempat program, sila atur dengan baik; janganlah tergopoh-gapah; kalau perjalanan itu patut sampai dalam tempoh 2 jam, maka bertolaklah dengan masa yang ditentukan; jangan bertolak untuk sampai dalam masa 1 jam, kalau itu sentiasa dibuat, alamatnya, cukup cepat sampai ke singgahsana 6 kaki dalam.
Jangan lewatkan tugas, tugas yang boleh buat sekarang, buatlah sekarang; kalau tugas hari ini, buatlah hari ini, jangan tangguh hari esuk kerana pada hari esuk dah banyak tugas lain.
Adakan masa juga untuk membaca. Seeloknya selepas Suboh itu, bacalah Quran, 10 - 15 minit tu tak rugi; dapat pahla dan dapat pengajaran; adakan juga masa untuk membaca buku-buku politik, sejarah, ekonomi dan lain-lain pengetahuan; banyak faedahnya.
Jadual-jadual ini kalau boleh dijadikan jadual kekal, supaya menjadi perkara yang lazim. Membaca Quran umpamanya, jika ditinggalkan, kadang-kadang setahun pun tak baca satu ayat pun; membaca buku-buku, kalau tak didisiplinkan, langsung tak baca walaupun bertahun-tahun, kepala hotak jadi bengap, kurang pengetahuan dan langsung tidak ada visi.
So, tak usahlah pinta tambah 10 jam lagi kepada 24 jam yang sudah ada. 24 jam itu sudah cukup untuk tidur, makan, solat, rehat, bekerja untuk keluarga, bertugas untuk masyarakat, dan lain-lain keperluan seperti menziarahi orang sakit, melawat orang mati, kenduri-kendara dan sebagainya.
Yang penting, buat jadual harian; lama kelamaan tak perlu buat jadual tapi sudah lazim dan biasa maka kehidupan kita menjadi kehidupan yang berjadual dan berdisiplin. Ok, boleh?
With the acquittal by the High Court of the sodomy charge against Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, a key page in the country's political history has been turned.
Immediate winners are of course Anwar, his family, his team of lawyers, and the opposition. For Anwar, it was not only exoneration of the sexual smear charges brought against him; it was also a victory for his political fortunes and that of Pakatan Rakyat, now reenergized, ahead of the coming elections.
As the clock winds down – much more slowly now as a result of this verdict – towards the end of the current term of the Barisan Nasional government, Anwar has quite rightly refrained from crowing over this unexpected verdict.
In his first comments to the press following the court decision, Anwar asked his supporters to concentrate on the larger reform agenda, and on fighting against corruption and ensuring the freedom of the media.
This reminder that Malaysians have to focus on the larger struggle for justice and freedom is salutary. Anwar's is only one in a string of recent political cases, the great majority of which the independence and integrity of the country's judiciary has been tested and found wanting.
Special tribute must be paid to judge, Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah, who must have come under tremendous pressure to return a guilty verdict in what was clearly a politically motivated trial.
Instead he delivered a judicial decision based on established principles of criminal justice. His judgment was the right one. His statement that the court could not exclude the possibility of the DNA samples being compromised addressed only one of the many doubts raised against the prosecution's case.
It was a case which relied on the accusation of one person, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan who coincidentally had met the then-deputy prime minister, Najib Tun Razak, several days before the alleged incident.
In most other democratic courts of law, this meeting would have raised immediate doubts about the credibility of the accuser as well as resulted in outright dismissal of the charges, and condemnation of the prosecution and its political masters for attempting to use the courts to cripple their political opponents.
Losers in the Sodomy II case
Losers are the Prime Minister, the Attorney-General exercising his office as public prosecutor, and Umno.
Najib's unexplained meeting with Saiful and refusal to testify despite being served subpoenas requiring him and his wife, Rosmah Mansor to appear in court, should have alerted his minders that even if the judge had returned a guilty verdict, the court of public opinion – in Malaysia as well as the rest of the world – would not easily believe that the Prime Minister was not an interested party and had no connection at all with Saiful.
Najib's political standing has now taken an enormous beating that no amount of spinning, by the Information Minister Rais Yatim that the verdict proves that the courts are free from political manipulation, can help salvage.
As for the Attorney-General, he must have been expecting to secure conviction and deliver his greatest triumph to his political masters. Instead he was handed a lesson in the principles of the delivery of justice by one of his colleagues in the judiciary legal service.
The prosecution can still appeal against the decision but in doing so it can only worsen the negative opinions and perception of the public at large that the Attorney-General's Chambers has been turned into a political tool of the Barisan government, with the current Attorney-General drastically lowering the standards of his office in his partiality towards the executive.
Umno – more correctly the legacy of Mahathir's Umno – is the biggest loser. Dr Mahathir Mohamad concocted the first sodomy charge against Anwar to prevent his deputy from taking over power but before that he had already gutted the judiciary of its integrity and independence.
Dr M's Umno supporters have continued in a similar vein, taking the political persecution of Anwar further by using it as the lynchpin of their campaign of demonization of Anwar and the opposition.
Now that strategy has backfired badly and may be the final nail in the coffin of Barisan rule over the country.
The biggest winner
Lastly, the biggest winner of all is the thinking and writing Malaysian public.
Not reported in the mainstream media and constantly ahead of the pundits and even legal analysts in their analysis of the Anwar case, Malaysians used the Internet to voice their outrage at the prosecution's case and to call for an end to attempts to make a mockery of the justice system in the pursuit of power.
Cynical observers have argued that the judiciary is only free and fair when it suits Umno and the government, and that the verdict was only because its leaders felt that a guilty verdict would lead to a worse situation compared to discharging Anwar.
That may be true but it still is a testimony to the influence of new and vibrant voices of dissent aimed at reform and restoring a truly free and independent judiciary.
Lim Teck Ghee is the director of Centre for Policy Initiatives.
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been acquitted of sodomy after a two-year trial.
Judge Zabidin Mohamad Diah said DNA evidence submitted by the prosecution was unreliable and discharged the case.
Mr Anwar, 64, has consistently denied the charges and called them a government bid to cripple his political ambitions and influence.
The government said the verdict showed Malaysia’s judiciary was free from government influence.
Sodomy is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia but, says the BBC’s Jennifer Pak in Kuala Lumpur, very few people are ever prosecuted.
‘Justice has prevailed’ Mr Anwar had been accused of having sex with a former male aide. He had faced up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
The acquittal caught Malaysians by surprise but not because they thought Anwar Ibrahim was guilty. The trial, dubbed by the local media “Sodomy 2.0″, was seen as an extension of his earlier conviction. Many Malaysians expected more of the same.
Mr Anwar’s struggle against sodomy charges has been front and centre in Malaysian politics for nearly 14 years. But his resolve to become prime minister, first within the governing coalition and now as the opposition leader, has never been stronger.
Now a free man, analysts say the charismatic leader cannot paint himself as a martyr. Without that helping to tip the scales, some young people hope that the next election will be more issue-based rather than focused on personalities.
But the judge said that there were questions over whether DNA evidence had been contaminated.
“The court is always reluctant to convict on sexual offences without corroborative evidence. Therefore, the accused is acquitted and discharged,” the judge said.
The verdict was greeted with cheers from Mr Anwar’s supporters, wife and daughters, our correspondent says.
Mr Anwar told journalists outside the courtroom: “Thank God justice has prevailed I have been vindicated.
“To be honest, I am a little surprised.”
Information Minister Rais Yatim said that the verdict showed that judges were free to rule as they saw fit.
“Malaysia has an independent judiciary,” he said. “The current wave of bold democratic reforms introduced by Prime Minister Najib Razak will help extend this transparency to all areas of Malaysian life.”
Police said two people were injured in two small blasts caused by explosive devices in a car park outside the court as the verdict was delivered. They did not say whether it was linked to the case.
‘Toppled’
The allegations against Mr Anwar surfaced just months after elections in 2008, in which he led the opposition to unprecedented gains at the expense of the ruling party.
1993 to 1998 – Deputy Prime Minister, under Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad 1999 – Jailed for abuse of power, sparking huge street protests 2000 – Found guilty of sodomy with his wife’s driver 2004 – Supreme Court overturns the sodomy conviction, freeing him from jail. He quickly emerges as the de facto opposition leader March 2008 – ruling coalition narrowly wins general election, but with its worst results in 50 years. The opposition makes unprecedented gains Aug 2008 – Anwar charged with sodomy for a second time, but despite this is soon voted in as an MP Feb 2009 – Second trial for sodomy starts Jan 2012 – Acquitted of sodomy by High Court
This verdict comes ahead of elections due in 2013 but widely expected to be called later this year.
Hundreds of police and security personnel were on the streets of Kuala Lumpur ahead of the verdict, and thousands of Mr Anwar’s supporters waited outside the court.
Mr Anwar was once Malaysia’s deputy prime minister and an ally of former leader Mahathir Mohammad.
But he fell out with Dr Mahathir and was later jailed for corruption and sodomy. The sodomy conviction was later overturned and he was freed in 2004 after spending six years in prison.
He is now seen as the key figure in Malaysia’s opposition coalition, which currently controls about a third of the seats in parliament.
The governing party has been in power for over 50 years and, says our correspondent, Mr Anwar is seen as the only person capable of challenging their dominance.
In a tweet from his account minutes after the verdict, the opposition leader looked ahead to the polls.
“In the coming election, voice of the people will be heard and this corrupt government will be toppled from its pedestals of power,” the message read.
Mr Anwar was speaking ahead of his acquittal today on sodomy charges.
Asked about Canberra’s proposed people-swap deal with Malaysia, Mr Anwar said the opposition could not support a program shrouded in secrecy.
“How do you expect us to support a program knowing the notorious record that we have treating foreign labour, treating illegal immigrants in this country?” he told ABC Radio.
“Have you forgotten and thrown the whole principle of the rule of law (and) constitutional rights to the sea?
“This may not be to the liking of the Australian government but I don’t think they should expect us to support a program that runs contrary to these principles.”
The Gillard government wants to send 800 people who arrive in Australia by boat to Malaysia for processing in exchange for accepting 4000 genuine refugees.
Labor has offered to reopen the Howard government-era detention centre on Nauru in exchange for coalition support for its controversial plan but the talks have so far proven fruitless.
Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott last week made it clear he is in no mood for compromise over the “dud” Malaysian deal.
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said that ”justice had been served” with his acquittal in a contentious sodomy trial and pledged to topple the government in the next elections.
”Thank God, justice has been served,” Anwar told reporters after a Malaysian judge pronounced him not guilty after a nearly two-year trial that he has denounced as a government attempt to cripple his strengthening opposition.
After the verdict, three small explosions were heard outside the court, with police blaming firecrackers.
The small but loud blasts occurred within minutes of each other after Anwar left the courthouse.
Witnesses said two people were taken away in an ambulance with minor injuries but AFP could not immediately confirm this.
Police said the blasts were due to firecrackers but would not confirm whether anyone was hurt.
At least one of the explosions damaged a motorcycle and shattered the window of a van, according to AFP journalists at the scene.
One of the blasts appeared to have exploded under a police cone.
Police cordoned off the affected areas and pushed back reporters, declining further comment other than to say firecrackers had been set off and that they were investigating.
Crowds estimated by police to number at least 5000 had gathered outside the court from before dawn in a show of support for the 64-year-old Anwar.
The blasts occurred as his supporters were rallying in the streets to celebrate the verdict.
Mr Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, spent six years in jail on sodomy and corruption counts in a stunning fall from grace after he fell out with his then boss, former premier Mahathir Mohamad.
The sodomy conviction was eventually overturned and Mr Anwar was released in 2004 before facing fresh charges in 2008 of having sex with a male former aide.
A Malaysian court has acquitted the country’s opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, of sodomy charges in a shock ruling that could fast-forward the former deputy prime minister’s political comeback ahead of an expected election this year.
Anwar, 64, was charged in 2008 with having sex with a male former aide, and could have faced whipping and up to 20 years in jail if found guilty. Under Malaysian law sex between males is a punishable offence even if consensual.
The case rested primarily on testimony by Anwar’s 26-year-old accuser, Saiful Bukhari Azlan, as well as semen samples found on Saiful’s body that investigators said matched Anwar’s DNA. Defence lawyers contended that Saiful’s testimony about the alleged sodomy, at a Kuala Lumpur apartment in 2008, was riddled with inconsistencies and the DNA evidence mishandled by investigators.
In his ruling, judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah expressed concern that the submitted evidence was tainted and told a packed Kuala Lumpur courtroom: “The court at this stage could not with 100% certainty exclude the possibility that the [DNA] sample is not compromised. Therefore it is not safe to rely on the sample.
“There is no evidence to corroborate” the charge, he added.
As his family burst into tears at the verdict, a jubilant Anwar greeted reporters. “Thank God justice has prevailed,” Anwar said. “I have been vindicated. To be honest I am a little surprised.”
Some 5,000 opposition supporters had gathered outside the court chanting “reform” as a police helicopter flew overhead and riot police, backed by a truck mounted with a water cannon, watched the crowd.
Three explosions were reported outside the courthouse, with a preliminary investigation finding two explosive devices underneath police cones. Two people were injured and taken to hospital, but it is unclear who was responsible.
Monday’s judgment is seen as a positive step forward for Malaysia’s judicial system and could have a major impact on upcoming general elections, which the prime minister, Najib Razak, is widely expected to call this year.
Najib hopes to regain a strong mandate after suffering in recent popularity polls and has promised economic and civil liberty reforms.
Anwar and his supporters long contested the sodomy allegations as a government plot to weaken his three-party coalition. The charges emerged after the coalition made unprecedented gains in the 2008 general elections against the ruling National Front alliance, which has ruled Malaysia for more than 50 years.
The opposition controls more than one-third of parliament’s seats and analysts say that Anwar, who has pledged to scale back Malaysia’s most draconian laws and reunify the racially divided nation if elected, could potentially knock out the incumbent government entirely.
This trial was the second time in 14 years that Anwar has faced the courts. Anwar served as both deputy prime minister and finance minister in the incumbent Umno party before falling out with his then premier, Mahathir Mohamad, in 1998.
He was then jailed for six years on sodomy and corruption charges in what was widely seen as a politically motivated prosecution. The sodomy charged was overturned in 2004.
Anwar has since become the glue binding together the three very ideologically different parties in his opposition alliance, which includes Islamists and an ethnic Chinese party. But for a coalition that has long considered itself “martyred” by Malaysian politics, the true test will be its ability to create a viable alternative for the future, says Bridget Welsh, Malaysia specialist at Singapore Management University.
“Charges against opposition figures don’t really help Malaysia. This [verdict] gives Malaysia an opportunity to move out of dirty politics – for the [National Front] to get out of gutter politics, and for the opposition to … move on and change its tactic from being the ‘martyr’ and ‘target’ to one that promotes a positive alternative for voters,” she said.
In a statement released after the verdict, the government said Monday’s ruling proved that “Malaysia has an independent judiciary and this verdict proves that the government does not hold sway over judges’ decisions. The current wave of bold democratic reforms introduced by [Najib] will help extend this transparency to all areas of Malaysian life.”
Such reforms, coupled with Monday’s acquittal, could be seen by voters as positive steps and translate into votes for the National Front in the upcoming elections, said Malaysian political analyst Ong Kian Ming.
“Had [Anwar] been convicted, he could have garnered more public sympathy that now won’t be as strong. [PM] Najib can now try to capitalise on this by continuing on with his political reforms, saying that the judiciary system is free and fair, and … gaining some momentum by leading up to the next election.”
Anwar’s accuser Saiful, who did not attend the hearing, wrote on Twitter after the verdict that he would “remain calm, continue praying and be patient”.
The legal saga may very well continue, since chief prosecutor Yusof Zainal Abiden has not yet decided whether to appeal against the acquittal.
The Malaysian Bar welcomes the decision of the High Court in acquitting Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The principles of natural justice call for nothing less, in light of the grave concerns over whether the accused's right to a fair trial was preserved.
Based on news reports of the trial, it is clear that the High Court decision is in accord with the evidence for, amongst others, the following reasons:
(1) The lack of full disclosure: Both prior to and during the trial itself, the legal team for the defence was denied access to certain documents and physical evidence in the possession of the prosecution, which disadvantaged the accused in the preparation of his defence;
(2) Unreliable DNA evidence: There were obvious concerns that the DNA sample submitted as evidence was unreliable or may have been compromised.
(3) Certain unusual findings during the trial proceedings:
(a) The trial judge made an unprecedented finding at the end of the prosecution's case that the complainant was a truthful and credible witness, without the benefit of having heard the defence.
(b) While the court allowed the Prime Minister and his wife to be interviewed by the defence legal team, the subpoena issued by the defence compelling the attendance of the Prime Minister and his wife was set aside by the High Court upon the application of the prosecution. The absence of curiosity in this regard casts grave concerns on the credibility of the complaint in the first place.
(4) The unrefuted relationship between the complainant and a member of the prosecution team, which raised serious questions whether the complainant had access to investigation papers, which would have enabled him to tailor his evidence at trial.
The charge against Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, which is based on an archaic provision of the Penal Code that criminalises consensual sexual relations between adults, should never have been brought. The case has unnecessarily taken up judicial time and public funds.
The Malaysian Bar hopes that the Attorney General would not pursue any appeal, and will instead focus the valuable resources of the Attorney General's Chambers on more serious crimes.
Ending a politically charged two-year trial, Malaysia's High Court acquitted the country's opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, of sodomy charges on Monday.
Judge Zabidin Mohamad Diah told the packed courtroom here in the capital that the DNA evidence offered by the prosecutors was unreliable, and that in sex-offense cases the court was reluctant to convict on uncorroborated testimony alone.
The courtroom erupted in cheers after the verdict, as did thousands of Mr. Anwar's supporters gathered outside. Mr. Anwar, appearing surprised by the outcome, hugged his family and told reporters, "Thank God justice has prevailed."
Sodomy, even between consenting adults, remains a crime in Malaysia, where most of the population is Muslim, and Mr. Anwar, 64, could have been sentenced to a term of up to 20 years if convicted. A prison sentence of a year or more would have barred Mr. Anwar from public office for five years after release.
Mr. Anwar has claimed that the case was concocted by Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration to damage the opposition's political standing. Mr. Najib has denied plotting against Mr. Anwar, who served as deputy prime minister in the 1990s.
He was prosecuted once before on charges of sodomy and abuse of power, convicted and jailed, in a case that was also denounced by his supporters as politically motivated. The High Court threw out that conviction in 2004.
Mr. Anwar then led the opposition to major gains in the 2008 elections, depriving the governing party of a two-thirds majority in Parliament for the first time since independence in 1957; a few months later he was charged again, this time with sodomizing a former political aide. Mr. Anwar has described the allegation as a "blatant and vicious lie."
Though the case was widely condemned by human rights organizations and prominent voices in the West, including former Vice President Al Gore and Paul D. Wolfowitz, the former deputy secretary of defense, the trial was widely expected to end in a conviction. That would have sidelined Mr. Anwar for the next national elections, which are expected later this year.
"Anwar was acquitted on a charge that should have never been brought in the first place," said Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch after the trial. "Hopefully this verdict sends a message to the government to put this matter to rest."
The government seemed inclined to make the best of the court's decision. The information minister, Rais Yatim, issued a statement saying, "Malaysia has an independent judiciary, and this verdict proves that the government does not hold sway over judges' decisions."
Dalam keputusan yang kurang dijangkakan oleh banyak pihak, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hari ini dibebaskan oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur daripada tuduhan meliwat bekas pembantunya, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 23.
Hakim Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah dalam penghakiman ringkasnya yang tidak melebihi lima minit berkata kedua-dua bukti iaitu DNA dan oral-lisan tak boleh sabit kesalahan.
"Selepas meneliti bukti, saya tidak boleh pasti 100 peratus bahawa integriti bukti tidak diusik.
"Saya mendapati adalah tidak selamat untuk bergantung kepada bukti DNA. Justeru, mahkamah hanya ada keterangan Saiful.
"Justeru, mahkamah keberatan menerima bukti sedemikian dari SP1 Saiful.
"Oleh kerana ini adalah jenayah seksual, mahkamah keberatan untuk menyabitkan berdasarkan keterangan Saiful. Tertuduh oleh itu dibebas dan dilepaskan," katanya.
Isteri Anwar, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail kelihatan menanggis sambil memeluk suaminya dalam kegirangan.
Seluruh mahkamah kecoh seketika dengan penyokong Anwar menjerit gembira.
Dalam reaksi spontannya, Ketua Pembangkang itu mengucapkan alhamdulillah dan bersyukur kerana kebenaran akhirnya dapat ditegakkan.
Terima kasih
"Saya berterima kasih kepada Wan Azizah dan keluarga kerana menyokong dan juga barisan peguam.
"Saya akhirnya dibebaskan selepas diaibkan sedemikian," katanya di luar mahkamah.
Beliau mengucapkan terima kasih atas sokongan pemimpin Pakatan dan ahli-ahli serta orang ramai yang menyokongnya.
Katanya, agenda reformasi bagi menentang rasuah dan kebebasan media mesti diteruskan.Anwar mengucapkan terima kasih kepada peguamnya.
Pada perbicaraan sejak tahun 2008 itu Anwar diwakili oleh pasukan peguam yang diketuai oleh Karpal Singh manakala peguam cara II negara Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden mengetuai pihak pendakwaan.
Beliau didakwa meliwat pembantunya Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan di Kondominium Desa Damansara pada 26 Jun 2008.
Pertuduhan adalah mengikut Seksyen 377B Kanun Keseksaan yang membawa hukuman penjara sehingga 20 tahun dan sebatan, jika sabit kesalahan.
Ini merupakan kes liwat kedua melibatkan beliau selepas didapati bersalah dan dihukum penjara sembilan tahun pada Ogos 2000 kerana meliwat pemandu, Azizan Abu Bakar.
Bagaimanapun, empat tahun selepas itu, beliau dibebaskan selepas Mahkamah Persekutuan menukar pensabitan itu kepada tidak bersalah dan mengetepikan hukuman penjara terhadapnya.
KUALA LUMPUR 9 JAN : Laporan awal dari Kompleks Mahkamah Jalan Duta mengumumkan Ketua Pembangkang Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim bebas dan tidak bersalah.
Hakim Zabidin Muhd Diah sebaik bersidang tidak membuang masa dan berkata pihak mahkamah meragui kesahan bukti DNA yang dikemukakan pendakwaraya.
Keputusan dibuat pada 9.20 pagi.
Sebaik sahaja mendapat keputusan itu, keheningan pagi di kompleks mahkamah gegak-gempita dengan suara 6,000 penyokong.
Sepanduk "Rakyat Hakim Negara" dan laungan keramat "Reformasi" menyambut kehadiran Anwar yang tiba pada jam 8.35 pagi, yang tiba bersama isteri, Dato Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail dan anak-anak.
Dari seawal jam 6.30 pagi lagi, keadaan di pintu masuk utama mahkamah sesak dibanjiri orang awam sebagai selesai solat Subuh di Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan.
Perhimpunan 901 pagi ini dipantau 21 trak polis yang dikerahkan ke lokasi dari jam 3 pagi lagi. Helikopter PDRM berligar-ligar merakam kehadiran tanpa putus orang-ramai dari segenap penjuru mahkamah.
"Saya meminta agar rakyat tenang menghadapi sebarang kemungkinan. Perhimpunan mesti berjalan dalam keadaan aman, baik sebelum mahupun setelah mahkamah putuskan keputusan," pesan Anwar kepada hadirin yang resah.
"Saya doakan yang terbaik! Saya mengharap pihak penghakiman menghormati undang-undang dan tidak dipengaruhi pemimpin-pemimpin korup," Anwar berkata kepada wartawan di ruang legar mahkamah.
Menteri Besar Selangor Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim tiba pada 8.43 pagi, disusuli Presiden Pas Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang dan Penasihat DAP Lim Kit Siang
Sebagai salah seorang dari pimpinan parti yang sama-sama berunding dengan pegawai tertinggi PDRM Kuala Lumpur, saya menegaskan pendirian KEADILAN bahawa muafakat yang dicapai dalam mesyuarat pada hari Jumaat, 6 Januari 2012 tidak menyentuh syarat-syarat yang diberikan oleh PDRM kemudiannya.
Malah, 10 syarat tersebut hanya dimaklumkan kepada KEADILAN melalui Saudara Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin selepas ia diedarkan kepada pihak media melalui satu surat sahaja. Tandatangan yang dirujuk oleh pihak PDRM adalah tandatangan Saudara Shamsul mengesahkan beliau ada menerima surat tersebut. Ia bukanlah tandatangan menyetujui syarat-syarat seperti digambarkan oleh sesetengah pihak.
Walaupun pihak PDRM ada menyuarakan beberapa perkara mengenai kawalan orang ramai dan keselamatan dalam perbincangan tempoh hari, saya tegaskan tidak ada sebarang persetujuan mengenai syarat-syarat khusus kerana pimpinan PDRM Kuala Lumpur berpuas hati dengan penerangan KEADILAN.
Oleh yang demikian, kami tetap dengan keyakinan bahawa perhimpunan aman ini akan berjalan dengan aman tanpa perlunya syarat-syarat yang dikemukakan pihak polis. KEADILAN menggesa rakyat Malaysia yang cintakan keadilan untuk hadir menyuarakan sokongan dan solidariti kepada Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan usaha mengembalikan integriti kepada sistem kehakiman negara.
PIDATO ANAK MUDA Tarikh : 21 Jan 2012, Sabtu Masa : 9 mlm Tempat : Kg Batang Nyamor, Kota, N.Sembilan (rumah Hj Bakar) Pemidato : Mohd Sani Hamzan , EXCO Pemuda PAS Pusat Chegubard , Ketua PKR Rembau Ustaz Khairil Anwar Wafa , Ketua Pemuda PAS N.Sembilan Mohd Hakki , Ketua Pemuda PAS Rembau
Tangisan gembira pasti menitis kepada setiap para penyokong dan pengikut PR seluruh negara apatah lagi buat yang berada di perkarangan Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Duta pagi ini setelah keputusan mahkamah membebaskan Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan tidak bersalah dalam kes Liwat II.
Doa dan harapan yang dilafazkan oleh seluruh rakyat dimakbulkan tuhan. Suatu kelegaan yang cukup bermakna buat PR dalam meneruskan perjuangannya bagi memenangi PRU-13 akan datang. Keputusan mahkamah tersebut telah melonjakkan semangat dan moral PR ke tahap yang tinggi.
Paling terpukul hasil keputusan ini adalah bekas Pesuruhjaya PAS Selangor, Dato Hassan Ali yang begitu lantang mengkritik kredibiliti Anwar Ibrahim sebelum ini. Nampaknya PAS bertindak tegas dan bijak dengan menyingkirkan Hassan Ali daripada keanggotaan parti tersebut! Seakan mengulangi kisah Zulkifli Nordin yang kerap mengkritik parti dan Anwar Ibrahim sebelum dipecat keanggotaannya oleh PKR.
Harus diingat ini bukan persoalan mencampuri urusan dalaman PAS tetapi ia telah menjadi isu bersama PR kerana Hassan Ali menyerang kesepakatan PR malah telah berani mengkritik Pesuruhjaya PAS Selangor di dalam TV3.
Seluruh anggota PR (PKR, PAS dan DAP) harus mengukuhkan persefahaman dalam menguatkan kesepakatan yang terjalin dengan keputusan mahkamah ini. Ia adalah pemangkin ke arah memperbaiki kekeruhan kecil yang sengaja dicetuskan oleh musuh-musuh politik PR.
Dalam keputusan yang kurang dijangkakan oleh banyak pihak, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hari ini dibebaskan oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur daripada tuduhan meliwat bekas pembantunya, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 23.
Hakim Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah dalam penghakiman ringkasnya yang tidak melebihi lima minit berkata kedua-dua bukti iaitu DNA dan oral-lisan tak boleh sabit kesalahan.
"Selepas meneliti bukti, saya tidak boleh pasti 100 peratus bahawa integriti bukti tidak diusik.
"Saya mendapati adalah tidak selamat untuk bergantung kepada bukti DNA. Justeru, mahkamah hanya ada keterangan Saiful.
"Justeru, mahkamah keberatan menerima bukti sedemikian dari SP1 Saiful.
"Oleh kerana ini adalah jenayah seksual, mahkamah keberatan untuk menyabitkan berdasarkan keterangan Saiful. Tertuduh oleh itu dibebas dan dilepaskan," katanya.
Isteri Anwar, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail kelihatan menanggis sambil memeluk suaminya dalam kegirangan.
Seluruh mahkamah kecoh seketika dengan penyokong Anwar menjerit gembira.
Dalam reaksi spontannya, Ketua Pembangkang itu mengucapkan alhamdulillah dan bersyukur kerana kebenaran akhirnya dapat ditegakkan.
Terima kasih
"Saya berterima kasih kepada Wan Azizah dan keluarga kerana menyokong dan juga barisan peguam.
"Saya akhirnya dibebaskan selepas diaibkan sedemikian," katanya di luar mahkamah.
Beliau mengucapkan terima kasih atas sokongan pemimpin Pakatan dan ahli-ahli serta orang ramai yang menyokongnya.
Katanya, agenda reformasi bagi menentang rasuah dan kebebasan media mesti diteruskan.Anwar mengucapkan terima kasih kepada peguamnya.
Pada perbicaraan sejak tahun 2008 itu Anwar diwakili oleh pasukan peguam yang diketuai oleh Karpal Singh manakala peguam cara II negara Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden mengetuai pihak pendakwaan.
Beliau didakwa meliwat pembantunya Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan di Kondominium Desa Damansara pada 26 Jun 2008.
Pertuduhan adalah mengikut Seksyen 377B Kanun Keseksaan yang membawa hukuman penjara sehingga 20 tahun dan sebatan, jika sabit kesalahan.
Ini merupakan kes liwat kedua melibatkan beliau selepas didapati bersalah dan dihukum penjara sembilan tahun pada Ogos 2000 kerana meliwat pemandu, Azizan Abu Bakar.
Bagaimanapun, empat tahun selepas itu, beliau dibebaskan selepas Mahkamah Persekutuan menukar pensabitan itu kepada tidak bersalah dan mengetepikan hukuman penjara terhadapnya.
Hakim Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah dalam penghakiman ringkasnya yang tidak melebihi lima minit berkata kedua-dua bukti iaitu DNA dan oral-lisan tak boleh sabit kesalahan.
"Saya akhirnya dibebaskan selepas diaibkan sedemikian," katanya di luar mahkamah.
Ini merupakan kes liwat kedua melibatkan beliau selepas didapati bersalah dan dihukum penjara sembilan tahun pada Ogos 2000 kerana meliwat pemandu, Azizan Abu Bakar.
