Anwar's sodomy trial

Back in 1998, Anwar was sacked from the post of Deputy Prime Minister by the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad. People of my age were only in lower primary school at that time, so we couldn't understand what was going on except that Anwar was no longer DPM. He was replaced by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 1999. What actually happened then that caused his fall from power?

Fast forward 10 years. We're now young adults old enough to vote in the next General Election. As a future intelligent voter, we should know the background of leaders to know their trustworthiness, sincerity and naturally their weaknesses. This weekend (or later), spare some time to see this documentary about the trial of Anwar - the star of Malaysian politics today - in 1999. Watch the sinister campaign of Mahathir and UMNO to oust the person who dared to fight corruption. This documentary was broadcasted by ABC Television in 2000 (more info) .

Malaysia - Trial of Anwar Ibrahim

Part: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Transcript

After an extensive investigation in Malaysia, featuring candid interviews with highly placed insiders, Foreign Correspondent presents compelling evidence that the trial of Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was based on fabricated charges resulting from a deliberate high-level conspiracy to oust him from office.

He was the bright, shining star of Malaysian politics, a leader in waiting. Now he languishes in a prison cell, serving a long sentence for crimes he and his supporters claim were contrived to destroy him politically and personally.

Reporter Evan Williams and Producer Virginia Moncrieff have new evidence and first-hand accounts of an elaborate conspiracy against Anwar and the dark and profoundly cynical effort to make a sham case stick.

Among a number of key players speaking publicly for the first time, a former official in the ruling UMNO party, Raja Kamarrudin, links the conspiracy to destroy Anwar directly to inner sanctum of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed.

"My duty is to give propaganda to speak to the UMNO people that Anwar is not fit to be the Prime Minister," says Kamarudin.

Foreign Correspondent reveals how Malaysian officials, as far away as the United States, tried bribing witnesses to testify against Anwar.

Also speaking for the first time, in a powerful, program-length special, are relatives and associates of Anwar who claim to have been repeatedly stripped and brutalised by Malaysian police as part of a program of intimidation designed to draw false confessions that they had been sodomised by Anwar.

"They want to punch me, they want to slap me and they're very angry, at the time I cannot even say the words 'what do you want from me'. I just feel cold, I feel ashamed because I'm naked then I cried and just stood there," Sukma Darmawan.

In an explosive letter to Foreign Correspondent, from solitary confinement, Anwar accuses Mahathir personally of orchestrating the conspiracy against him to protect his cronies and family.

"Corruption was endemic. On . critical issues like democracy, corruption, my views were well articulated. I was his nemesis and he was terrified that I may pose a challenge to his leadership in the party," Anwar Ibrahim.

After watching this documentary, what conclusion can you make? I think the BN government back then - even now - is rotten, because the PM is given too much power until dictatorship had and will have a chance to rear its ugly head in this democratic country. Therefore, drastic reforms has to be introduced which is promised by Anwar and the Pakatan Rakyat. BN is too lethargic under the leadership of Abdullah. We need reforms to be fast-tracked for the benefit of this country. Hopefully they can take over the leadership of this country come Sept 16. Anwar for PM!