January 8, 2012
A ‘test’ of democracy Malaysia might fail
By Editorial Board, Published: January 7
ON MONDAY (January 9, 2012) a struggle over human rights and democracy will come to a head in an important Muslim country. The site is not Egypt or Turkey but Malaysia, a country of 28 million that, as it has prospered economically, has grown an opposition movement that is pressing an authoritarian regime to share power.
The opposition’s leader is Anwar Ibrahim, whose multiethnic alliance shocked the ruling party in several state elections in 2008 and who has a chance to oust Prime Minister Najib Razak in national elections expected in the next few months, if the vote is free and fair.
All that explains why on Monday Mr. Anwar will find himself not on the campaign trail but in a courtroom, where he is likely to be given a lengthy prison sentence. The charge is homosexual sodomy, which Malaysia shamefully still treats as a crime.
Mr. Anwar, who is 64 and married with children, denies the charge; he claims, plausibly, to have been framed by the government. His 26-year-old accuser met with Mr. Najib two days before the alleged sexual encounter took place. The case was brought shortly after the opposition’s 2008 victories and is coming to a conclusion just as new elections approach.
Mr. Anwar has been persecuted before. After a falling out with a previous prime minister, he was charged with sodomy in 1998 and spent six years in prison before being exonerated. Since then he has become one of the best-known advocates for liberal democracy in the Muslim world. The coalition he has fashioned of secular, Muslim and ethnic Chinese groups could make Malaysia the second majority-Muslim country in Asia, after Indonesia, to become a working democracy.
Mr. Anwar is not perfect: Lashing out at Mr. Najib after his arrest, he employed ugly anti-Israel rhetoric, for which he later apologized. He nevertheless deserves support from the United States and other nations seeking to broaden human rights in the Muslim world.
So far, the Obama administration’s stance has been weak. The State Department says that it has
“closely followed the prosecution” and raised the case “regularly in Kuala Lumpur and in Washington.” But there has been little overt pressure; when President Obama met with Mr. Najib in November, he said nothing publicly about human rights or democracy.
Instead he heaped praise on the Prime Minister for “the extraordinary cooperation that we’ve received on a whole range of issues.”
In fact Malaysia has been a modest help on terrorism cases, and it forms part of the administration’s strategy for bolstering its position in Asia. That, however, is not a rationale to step aside as Mr. Anwar, and the country’s hopes for democracy, are crushed. The State Department has said that the Anwar case is “a test of Malaysia’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law.” If the verdict fails that test, there should be consequences for Mr. Najib’s relations with Washington.
Din Merican: the Malaysian DJ Blogger 
Might fail should have read has failed…a long time ago..
Yes ARMS728, Malaysia has failed the democracy test long time ago since Tengku Razaleigh challenged Mahathir and followed by the sacking of Tun Salleh Abas. Only a real reform can put Malaysia back on the right track, hopefully post GE13.
If Anwar is convicted in the face of filmy grounds, the local and international agitation that follows would be a nightmare for Najib and UMNO. UMNO has caught a Tartar and would be unable to cage their captive. The battle cry is Bring it ON Mr. Najib.
Verdict on 9 Jan ?
Surprise! Surprise !
This scared stiff UMNO judiciary will declare a MIS-Trial.
Everybody wins.
PR will have Anwar campaigning,UMNO-BN will have the sodomy charge still on during it’s ceramah, and the JUDICIARY will not have brickbats thrown at them.
Sodomy trial restarts after this general election….
Third sex evidence to be introduced to allege paedophilia. First one, sodomy, second one sex with prostitute, and third one soon to beconcocted by UMNO for paedophilia. Malaysia semua boleh.
This is a great editorial, and the last sentence is telling — “If the verdict fails that test, there should be consequences for Mr. Najib’s relations with Washington.” Note that the word was “Najib’s relations”, not “Malaysia’s relations.” If Anwar is thrown in jail, it will be impossible for Najib to keep on portraying himself as a great moderate democratic leader.
On the very same day, the Wall Street Journal also published an editorial on Anwar’s trial. So two of America’s three most prominent newspapers have not been fooled by the millions that Najib has spent on APCO and FBC Media.
We will all be watching carefully on Monday. If Anwar is convicted (and it seems he will be), the issue will then be whether he is granted bail as he appeals. If the government opposes bail and Anwar is jailed (which also is likely), the opposition’s leader and most charismatic and effective campaigner, will be thrown in jail just as elections approach. As Ambiga said, it is a tragedy that Malaysia’s judicial system is being used for such political purposes.
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Thanks, Ambassador Malott for your insightful comments. –Din Merican
This is not the first time the Malaysia judicial system is abused for political expediency. In fact the personality that openly abused it is still very much alive condoning it.
UMNO and DSN is going for broke. They said so…”we will defend Putrajaya no matter what it takes” because too much is at stake. They will whip race and religion into a frenzy and PERKASA and PEKIDA will be foaming in the mouth threatening everybody who disagrees with them.
DSN is trapped between UMNO hardliners and TDM and the popular pressure demanding good governance due to his weak leadership. He should never have been PM. He just doen’t have what it take to do the job.
that shows how much of a man are you. whats the difference between you, obama and george bush junior? zilch.
“We will all be watching carefully on Monday. If Anwar is convicted (and it seems he will be), the issue will then be whether he is granted bail as he appeals. If the government opposes bail and Anwar is jailed (which also is likely), the opposition’s leader and most charismatic and effective campaigner, will be thrown in jail just as elections approach. As Ambiga said, it is a tragedy that Malaysia’s judicial system is being used for such political purposes.” — Ambassador Malott
If Anwar is found “Not guilty” the message that goes out loud and clear is that Najib could be made to reverse his decision under pressure. It will only encourage his political adversaries. He will be seen to have fallen victim to the ‘kecut teloq’ syndrome, not an unfamiliar term to the Malays holding steadfast to their belief in their religion and in their guns (read: keris) of what is right and wrong as seen from their perspective, one which defies definition in terms of western values and standards but one which has haunted their leaders.
Najib has made his bed; he must now sleep in it.
And Frank,
On the issue of a mistrial. A motion for mistrial by counsel would have to be made during trial, as soon as there is cause and a ruling would have been made then. The case has gone to the trier of facts (and law in this case). That is a non-issue.
Anwar will apply for leave to appeal. I can see grounds for appeal. He has that constitutional right (to remain free while waiting for his appeal) even as a convicted felon. If he is a flight risk, they would have to deal with it in other ways.
But then this is Bolehland. They are not out to win a conviction; rather to punish but a conviction helps though later reversed.
Not one but two US newspapers suddenly interested about human rights and democracy in our country when their own continues to trample on it. Easy to understand why Putin mentioned some pot calling the kettle black.
You miss the point, Isa Manteqi.
It is not the fact that the kettle is black or as black as the pot. It is the right to call the pot whatever color you choose that is the issue.
Isa Manteqi suffers from west-phobia. A very distorted world view…in fact, warped.
Isa is a smart punter. He hedges his bet and places his bets at the final moment before the croupier says no more bets. He is learned but sways with the wind. He plays heads I win and tail you lose game.
Not bad for someone who has been crucified once before.
WEBELOS : Perhaps you might give one example of my swaying so that I may respond.
.I can afford to have a warped view of the world because politics is full of double standards and hypocrisy. Almost every world body that has emerged since World War 2 has emphasised non-intervention in the internal affairs of others. How many respect this? I mentioned Putin because he just happened to be the latest in a long list of leaders sick of outsiders meddling in their affairs in the name of democracy and human rights..
So it is hypocrisy-phobia rather than west-phobia. Want a second opinion? Ask the Chinese government……
Isa I have to go back to many postings ago. Perhaps when I have time I’ll do it. Often times you don’t realise it.
WEBELOS : Yes, please do take the time and let me know where you feel I have been inconsistent or have erred… no hurry.