Politics 101 Malaysia

REUTERS, 14 July.

Anwar Ibrahim refused to meet police over sodomy accusations against him, his lawyer said, challenging the authorities to serve an order on him.

Analysts warned of increasing financial fallout from the political drama.

Mr Anwar, who is leading a charge by a rejuvenated opposition to unseat the government, had earlier agreed to meet police at 2pm on Monday to give his statement on a sodomy complaint brought against him by a former aide.

But his lawyer Sankara Nair said Mr Anwar would not go as planned, to protest an attempt by the police to serve an order on him after he had agreed to go voluntarily.

‘This was totally unnecessary given that we were all in an unconditional agreement, in advance, that our client will appear,’ Mr Sankara said in a statement. ”Continued”

by ULIA ZAPPEI, AP

Malaysia deployed a specially trained police force to patrol its main international airport Thursday after a brazen armed robbery last month triggered worries about security lapses.

A team of 141 personnel skilled in guarding high-risk areas such as government buildings began making its rounds at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, a federal police spokesman said on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.

The security beef-up comes after robbers opened fire April 9 on two airport currency exchange workers and escaped with a bag of Singapore currency worth US$1 million (€650,000). ”Continued”

This is a really sad case, one of David versus many Goliaths in the system. Nothing uncommon in a banana republic like ours.

by RK Anand, malaysiakini, Dec 24.

Forty years ago, John Stevens had signed up for the police force to serve his country. He had hoped to earn enough to support his siblings.

Today, he is only left with regret.

"Look at my condition, they have neglected me," whimpered the 61-year-old pensioner in a tone that did little to conceal his resentment and sorrow.

His wife, Elizabeth Packianathan, 57, shared the same sentiment. "After serving in the police for 34 years, what did we get?"

The couple’s only son, John Patrick, 30, added: "More than anything else, we want to highlight the discrimination and problems we faced."

Met at their house in Ipoh, Perak, yesterday, the family of the former lance corporal related their ordeal.

Suffered a stroke

Eight years ago - on June 3, 1999 - Stevens collapsed while manning a roadblock in Pusing, Batu Gajah. But he later managed to return home on his motorcycle.

”Continued”

Tunku Abdul Aziz, a member of the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police (Royal Police Commission) which was setup in 2005, expressed his utter disappointment at the Special Complaints Commission (SCC) Bill that will be tabled for a second reading in Parliament today.

The SCC, which was tabled for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat last Thursday, has been panned by its critics as being a fraudulent version of the much-anticipated Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

The setting up of the IPCMC was a major proposal made by the Royal Police Commission.

(malaysiakini report, Dec 17.)

In a swift response to the unconstitutional detention without trial of five Hindraf leaders, the DAP has set up a support group to assist the detainees’ families.

The group will be headed by high-ranking party leaders, Ipoh Barat MP M Kula, and assisted by CEC member A Sivanesan.

Legal options being considered include the petitioning for a writ of habeas corpus. ”Continued”

AsiaSentinel, Dec 11.

In a clear sign that the government of Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is fed up with continuing protest, immigration officials detained de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim at the country’s Subang Jaya Airport Tuesday before releasing him, and arrested at least 12 opposition leaders who attempted to protest at the Dewan Rakyart, or Parliament.

As has happened with increasing frequency in Kuala Lumpur, police Tuesday attempted to block protesters from reaching the parliament building, once again paralyzing traffic across the city.

Officials stood by with water cannons but did not use them. Five opposition protesters got into the parliament building by riding through a police cordon in the cars of elected opposition figures.

Anwar, who was informed by immigration officials that he had been placed on a watch list, was freed after about half an hour. ”Continued”

Police invaded parliament to detain Mustafa Ali of PAS this morning.

By Jalil Hamid, Reuters, Dec 5.

A Malaysian human rights lawyer, who helped organise 10,000 ethnic Indians to protest against racial discrimination, says he feared he might be jailed for years without trial for speaking up.

But 46-year-old P. Uthayakumar, who said he was inspired by this year’s demonstrations by monks in Myanmar against its military regime, said he would continue to champion his causes despite threats of arrest.

“There is fear. The PM (Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) has warned us he will put us under the ISA,” referring to the colonial-era Internal Security Act (ISA) that allows indefinite detention without trial.

“We are saying that we are speaking the truth. If you put us under the ISA, you will oppress us,” he told Reuters in an interview. “But it is not in our hands, it is in (the government’s) hands.”

The UK-trained lawyer, and his younger brother P. Waythamoorty who has since left the country, were chief organisers of the community’s unprecedented Nov. 25 anti-government protest that rocked Malaysia ahead of possible early polls.

In early 2006, Uthayakumar set up the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), which has emerged as one of the most vocal pressure groups challenging Abdullah’s administration. ”Continued”

A couple of merdekas ago, Deputy Internal Security Minister Noh Omar said it was insensitive and a humiliation to the national flag when model Aida Khurniah did this.

But hey, it’s okay to assault the national flag with chemical-laced H2O.