Selasa, 22 Mei 2012

Anwar Ibrahim

Anwar Ibrahim

Rakaman Ceramah Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim Merdeka Rakyat Di Kuching

Posted: 22 May 2012 01:40 AM PDT

Malaysia’s Anwar Is Charged Over Protest Fracas

Posted: 22 May 2012 12:35 AM PDT

The Wall Street Journal

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and his party deputy were charged in court Tuesday in connection with a street protest last month in Kuala Lumpur that led to riot police turning tear gas and water cannons on demonstrators, in some of the most chaotic scenes Malaysia’s capital has seen in years.

Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim addressed protesters during an anti-government rally in Kuala Lumpur.

If convicted, Mr. Anwar could lose his seat in Malaysia’s Parliament, adding to a long list of legal problems the opposition leader has faced in his political career, including two sodomy charges. He was eventually cleared of the charges in both those cases, which he said were politically motivated.

The deputy leader of Mr. Anwar’s People’s Justice Party, Azmin Ali, was charged in Kuala Lumpur’s Sessions Court along with Mr. Anwar for allegedly urging demonstrators to surge into an area cordoned off by police. A party member, Badrul Hisham Shaharin, was also charged. All three said they were innocent.

By charging Mr. Anwar, 64 years old, state prosecutors risk heightening political divides in a polarized nation, with elections expected to be called in the next few months. The protest at the center of the cases involving Messrs. Anwar and Azmin was one of the biggest in Kuala Lumpur in more than a decade.

“It is clearly a politically-motivated charge. Elections are around the corner,” Mr. Anwar told reporters, the Associated Press reported.

On April 28, more than 50,000 people protested in a mostly peaceful show of support for electoral reforms, as Prime Minister Najib Razak and his ruling National Front coalition prepare for national elections that must be called by spring 2013, and which could come sooner.

The protests, dubbed Bersih, the Malay word for “clean,” came after a run of political changes that the prime minister introduced in response to calls for reforms to strengthen Malaysia’s democracy, and to boost the electoral appeal of the National Front, which has governed Malaysia for decades.

While moves such as ending arrests without warrants and allowing more political dissent have helped improve Mr. Najib’s opinion poll ratings, some Malaysians want to see faster and wider changes aimed at helping this resource-rich but authoritarian-minded nation emerge as a full democracy.

The credibility of the Peaceful Assembly Act—a centerpiece of Mr. Najib’s changes, enacted after a 2011 prodemocracy protest—could be affected by Mr. Anwar’s latest case. The government says the legislation was designed to create more leeway for political protests in the country, but critics and opposition political say it criminalizes protesters who step beyond the bounds of the law.

In a statement, a Malaysian government spokesperson said state prosecutors will pursue charges against anyone involved in inciting or committing acts of violence during the recent Bersih protest.

“To date, charges have been brought against various individuals, including two policemen, for events that took place during the protest,” the spokesperson said. “Charges are decided on by the public prosecutor following receipt of police investigation papers.”

Political analysts said Mr. Anwar’s prosecution reflects a pattern of government officials using legal cases to question the credibility of opposition figures, especially Mr. Anwar.

“There is a fine line between these tactics succeeding, or galvanizing support for the opposition,” said Bridget Welsh, a professor at Singapore Management University and a long-time observer of Malaysian politics.

In 1998, government leaders attempted to portray Mr. Anwar as a dangerous radical when he led mass protests after being sacked as deputy prime minister. He was charged with sodomy–a crime in this conservative majority-Muslim nation—later that year. Mr. Anwar denied the charge and was later cleared of it in 2004 after spending six years in jail.

In 2008, Mr. Anwar was charged with sodomizing a young male aid. Mr. Anwar again said he was innocent and called the charges trumped up to destroy his political career. He was acquitted in January, although state prosecutors have appealed that decision.

Mr. Najib has denied orchestrating a conspiracy against Mr. Anwar.

New York-based Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, urged Malaysian authorities not to use aftermath of the latest Bersih demonstrations to sideline opposition leaders.

“The Malaysian authorities appear to be using what happened at the Bersih demonstrations as a pretext to prosecute political opposition leaders,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “These charges, and the actions by police at the Bersih rally, don’t inspire confidence that the Malaysian government is committed to protecting basic free expression rights.”

Anwar Ibrahim Didakwa Hasut Demonstran

Posted: 22 May 2012 12:30 AM PDT

Kompas.com

Pemimpin oposisi Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim dan dua rekannya, Selasa (22/5/2012), didakwa melakukan sejumlah pelanggaran hukum selama demonstrasi besar untuk menuntut pemiliu yang jujur beberapa waktu lalu.

Dakwaan itu bisa mengganggu persiapan Anwar Ibrahim dalam pemilihan umum yang kemungkinan dilaksanakan pada September mendatang.

Anwar didakwa bersama Azmin Ali yang merupakan deputi presiden untuk Partai Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) dan pengurus organisasi pemuda partai itu, Baharul Hisham Shaharin.

Pengadilan Kuala Lumpur mendakwa ketiganya melawan larangan pengadilan tentang berkumpul di tempat publik di Kuala Lumpur bulan lalu dan menghasut pengunjuk rasa lainnya untuk menerobos barikade polisi di Lapangan Merdeka.

Dalam persidangan itu, ketiganya menyatakan tidak bersalah dan menghadapi hukuman maksimal, yakni enam bulan penjara dan denda total 12.000 ringgit jika terbukti bersalah. Persidangan berikutnya dijadwalkan pada 2 Juli untuk menentukan tanggal-tanggal sidang selanjutnya.

“Ini jelas dakwaan bermotif politis. Pemilu sudah di ambang pintu,” kata Anwar yang dikerumuni wartawan.

Dakwaan itu merupakan yang pertama bagi Anwar setelah dia dibebaskan dari dakwaan kasus sodomi pada Januari lalu. Pemerintah membantah tuduhan Anwar bahwa persidangan kasus sodomi itu direkayasa untuk melemahkan aliansi oposisi yang secara mengejutkan mengalami peningkatan dukungan pada pemilu 2008.

Anwar, Azmin, dan Baharul bergabung dengan puluhan ribu demonstran pada 28 April silam untuk menuntut perbaikan undang-undang pemilu. Polisi menggunakan gas airmata dan water cannon setelah sejumlah demonstran menerobos barikade yang dipasang di Lapangan Merdeka yang tidak boleh dimasuki.

Deputi direktur Asia Human Right Watch, Phil Robertson, mengatakan dakwaan terhadap para pemimpin oposisi itu “tidak menunjukkan bahwa pemerintah Malaysia berkomitmen melindungi hak-hak untuk kebebasan berekspresi.”

Perdana Menteri Malaysia Najib Razak dan para pejabat lainnya menuduh oposisi berusaha menciptakan kekacauan di demonstrasi itu. Beberapa bahkan menuduh Anwar dan Azmin memprovokasi para pengunjuk rasa agar melempari polisi.

Jika Anwar dan Azmin mendapat vonis maksimum, mereka terancam kehilangan kursi parlemen.

Pemilu nasional memang baru akan digelar pada 2013, namun spekulasi yang kini berkembang adalah Najib akan membubarkan parlemen dalam waktu dekat. Pemerintah koalisi yang berkuasa di Malaysia sejak 1957, kini hanya menguasai kurang dari dua pertiga kursi parlemen setelah mengalami kekalahan pada pemilu 2008.

Dalam unjuk rasa April lalu itu, para demonstran menuntut pengunduran diri para pejabat Komisi Pemilu dengan alasan mereka berpihak. Mereka juga menginginkan dibersihkannya daftar pemilih yang mereka tuduh berisi nama-nama palsu, selain menuntut aturan pemilu yang adil untuk memastikan setiap partai mendapat akses ke media-media besar.

Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim Denies Protest Offences

Posted: 21 May 2012 11:46 PM PDT

From BBC.News.com

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has pleaded not guilty to violating laws on street protests.

Mr Anwar and two of his allies were charged over their conduct at a mass street rally for electoral reform that took place in April.

The move comes with elections expected to be called soon. If convicted, the opposition leader could be disqualified from running for office.

He has described the charges as politically motivated.

“We will fight. This is political intimidation,” Mr Anwar said at the court.

He accused Prime Minister Najib Razak of being afraid to face him in an election.

The charges carry a possible jail term of six months as well as a fine. A hearing has been scheduled for 2 July.

‘Acts of violence’
The charges relate to the 28 April rally during which Mr Anwar addressed thousands of people.

Protesters marched in the capital, in one of the largest rallies in the country in the past decade, calling for changes to the electoral system.

They believe current arrangements favour the prime minister’s long-ruling coalition.

The protests turned violent, however, with hundreds arrested as police used tear gas and clubs to break up the rally.

A government statement on Monday said: “The Malaysian public prosecutor has made it clear that charges will be pursued against anyone involved in inciting or committing acts of violence during the recent Bersih protest.”

Bersih is the name of the coalition of NGOs behind the 28 April rally.

Mr Anwar has long accused the government of waging a political vendetta against him by inventing criminal cases.

He spent six years in prison on sodomy charges that were eventually quashed.

And he was recently acquitted after a trial on separate sodomy charges.

Sodomy is illegal in Malaysia, even between consenting adults.

Mr Anwar was once deputy prime minister and tipped for the country’s highest office before he fell out with top leaders and was beaten, jailed and disgraced.

Malaysian Opposition Leader to Face Charges Over Protest

Posted: 21 May 2012 11:35 PM PDT

From New York Times

The Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and another leader of his party were expected to be charged Tuesday in relation to a protest last month in which the police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands of demonstrators calling for free and fair elections.

Mr. Anwar and Azmin Ali, deputy president of the People’s Justice Party, received a summons on Monday informing them that they would be charged in court Tuesday morning, said Ibrahim Yaacob, Mr. Anwar’s chief of staff.

Mr. Ibrahim said the summons stated that Mr. Anwar and Mr. Azmin would be charged with participating in a street protest, which is illegal under the peaceful assembly act, and for breaching a court order by inciting protesters to break through barriers.

The street protest, one of the largest in Malaysia in recent years, turned violent after demonstrators broke through barriers around Independence Square in Kuala Lumpur on April 28.

More than 500 people were arrested, and some demonstrators have complained that they were beaten by the police during the rally, which was organized by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, a group of 84 organizations calling for major reforms to the country’s election system.

The government has pledged to introduce reforms to the election system, but the group, known as Bersih – “clean” in Malay – argues that those measures will not be enough to ensure that the next elections, which are expected to be called within months, are conducted fairly.

Bersih organizers estimated that 250,000 people attended the protest, but the police put the figure around 50,000.

Before the protest, the police had obtained a court order banning anyone from entering Independence Square.

Participating in a street protest is punishable by a fine of 10,000 ringgit, or $3,200. It was unclear whether the opposition leaders could also face prison terms. Andrew Khoo, a lawyer and a member of the Bersih steering committee, said that anyone found to have defied the court order could face a fine of 2,000 ringgit, six months in prison, or both. However, Sankara Nair, a lawyer for Mr. Anwar, told Reuters that Mr. Anwar could not be imprisoned for the latest charge.

Mr. Ibrahim said Mr. Anwar and Mr. Azmin would appear in court Tuesday and would fight the charges. They have denied claims that they encouraged protesters to break through the barriers.

In January, Mr. Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, was acquitted of sodomy, a charge his supporters had condemned as politically motivated. Mr. Anwar previously served six years in prison on charges of sodomy and abuse of power, before he was freed in 2004 after the sodomy conviction was overturned.

He now leads the opposition coalition, which made historic gains in the 2008 election when the governing coalition, which has dominated Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957, lost its two-thirds parliamentary majority for the first time.

Mr. Ibrahim said he believed that the charges were “definitely” related to the next election. “Of course we know that’s what they’re aiming at,” he said.

A Malaysian government spokesman said in a statement that the public prosecutor had made it clear that charges would be pursued against anyone involved in inciting or committing acts of violence during the protest.

“To date, charges have been brought against various individuals, including two policemen, for events that took place during the protest,” the statement read. “Charges are decided on by the public prosecutor following receipt of police investigation papers.”

Symbolic Win After Former Prosecutor Joins Legal Team

Posted: 21 May 2012 11:22 PM PDT

The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 — Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim claimed a symbolic victory today in having the man who unsuccessfully prosecuted him for sodomy join his legal team to defend an illegal assembly charge, pointing out that someone who was in government did not want to be a part of what he called the "dirtiness".

Anwar has repeated his charge that the latest charge against him is politically-motivated, and said that former Solicior-General II Datuk Yusof Zainal Abiden's entry into his legal team was "meaningful" to him and a "positive development".

"I received information that he was willing to join my legal defence team, so I as the accused contacted him for help," Anwar (picture) told reporters.

"This is a positive development… I think more lawyers are biding their time to join me as well," he said.

"Yusof's presence is very meaningful to me. It shows that someone inside the government is aware of the 'dirtiness' and does not want to be a part of it," he added.

Anwar pointed out that if Yusof truly thought he was guilty, then the former solicitor-general would not have agreed to join his legal team.

"Yusof came here with full commitment and his performance today is proof that he only wants justice to be served," he said.

Yusof joined Anwar's legal team as the opposition leader was today charged with taking part in an illegal street demonstration on April 28.

It was a startling turn of events as Yusof had led the Sodomy II prosecution against Anwar, which saw the latter being acquitted earlier this year.

He has since retired from the Attorney-General's Chambers.

"Anwar called me last night and I had no hesitation," Yusof told The Malaysian Insider when approached.

The Malaysian Insider understands that Yusof's ties with Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail have been cool for some time and he had disagreed with the way some high-profile cases had been handled.

Yusof was earlier spotted mingling with Anwar's other defence lawyers.

PKR leader and lawyer Sivarasa Rasiah had earlier confirmed with The Malaysian Insider in a text message when asked if the former government lawyer was on the PKR de facto head's legal team.

Sivarasa said Yusof was assisting Anwar's lead counsel Karpal Singh. The other lawyers on Team Anwar are Karpal's son Ram Karpal Singh Deo and Sankara Nair.

Anwar, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and Rembau PKR chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin were today charged with taking part in the April 28 Bersih 3.0 rally under section 4(2)(c) of the Peaceful Assembly Act, less than a month after the new law aimed at allowing public gatherings "in accordance with international norms" was enforced.The offence under the Peaceful Assembly Act carries a maximum fine of RM10,000.

All three claimed trial.

Sessions Court judge Mahmud Abdullah set July 2 as the next mention date for the trial.

Najib Guna Mahkamah Untuk Sekat kemaraan

Posted: 21 May 2012 11:16 PM PDT

Malaysiakini

Ketua pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mendakwa Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak menggunakan proses mahkamah untuk membendung kemaraan beliau ketika pilihan raya kini semakin hampir.

Beliau juga mendakwa, tuduhan ke atasnya hari ini berhubung perhimpunan BERSIH 3.0 juga satu tindakan politik yang dirancang dan juga untuk mengelak isu pilihan raya yang dibawa dalam perhimpunan 28 April itu.

“Najib perlu menghadapi saya dalam pilihan raya dan dia mahu gunakan mahkamah untuk bantu dia. Saya hendak beritahu Najib, pilihan raya itu diputuskan rakyat,” katanya.

Tambahnya, Najib juga tidak boleh menggunakan undang-undang Akta Perhimpunan Aman yang diluluskan dengan bantahan keras pembangkang “untuk menakut-nakutkan dan menghalang seteru politik” sepertinya.

“(Perdana Menteri) Datuk (Seri) Najib (Razak) tak boleh dakwa kami kerana yang terlibat itu ratusan ribu (orang).

“Yang dielak beliau adalah isu pokok iaitu isu pilihan raya. Ini tanda dendam kesumat beliau guna apparat pemerintah untuk tekan kami,” katanya lagi selepas dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Sesyen Kuala Lumpur hari ini.

Beliau serta dua lagi pemimpin PKR – timbalan presiden Azmin Ali dan bekas ahli majlis pimpinan pusat, Badrul Hisham Shaharin – didakwa mengikut Seksyen 4(2) (c) Akta Perhimpunan Aman kerana didakwa mengambil bahagian dalam yang perhimpunan BERSIH 3.0.

Tuduhan itu juga atas dakwaan melanggar perintah Majistret Zaki Asyraf Zubir, bertarikh 26 April yang melarang perhimpunan di Dataran Merdeka dan kawasan yang bersempadan dengan Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, Jalan Raja dan Jalan Kelab.

Mereka didakwa melakukan kesalahan itu antara jam 2.30 petang dan 3 petang pada 28 April.

Mereka juga menghadapi satu lagi tuduhan di bawah Kanun Keseksaan, iaitu bersama penyokong BERSIH 3.0 yang melebihi lima orang yang masih bebas, dalam mencapai niat bersama, telah bersubahat dengan Tangam a/l Raju, Rajesh Kumar a/l Gejinder dan Farhan bin Ibrahim @ Alias, telah mengingkari perintah yang dikeluarkan oleh Majistret Zaki Asyraf Zubir pada 26 April.

Prosecution of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, YB Azmin Ali And Badrul Hisham – A Desperate, Politically Motivated Act By BN

Posted: 21 May 2012 07:25 AM PDT

The Attorney-General acting on the behest of Barisan Nasional is at it again. Having failed to stop Anwar Ibrahim with trumped-up sodomy charges, they are now trying again.

This afternoon, Anwar Ibrahim ( the Leader of the Opposition) , Azmin Ali and Badrul Hisham received summonses to appear in the Jalan Duta Court tomorrow morning to be charged in relation to purported offences connected with the Bersih 3.0 rally on 28th April 2012.

One charge alleges a breach of the Court order dated 26.4.2012 issued by Magistrate Zaki Ashraf.  The charge Anwar and the other will face is allegedly causing a breach of the barricades to take place.  Parti Keadilan Rakyat views this charge as ludicrous and frivolous bearing in mind that the ample video evidence that he had directed the crowd to go down Jalan Tengku Abdul Rahman.  Furthermore, the legal validity of the Court order is itself suspect for non-compliance with the Peaceful Assembly Act itself.  It is also now clear that the police barricades themselves were not in compliance with the order.

The second charge is that of being present in a street protest contrary to the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012. This prosecution of Anwar and the others under this Act shows up the complete hypocrisy in Prime Minister Najib’s so-called “political transformation” or “liberalisation” programme.  Pakatan’s portentious warnings in Parliament in December 2011 that this Act was regressive compared to the older section 27 of the Police Act and would be abused are now vindicated.

It is ironic that the first prosecution of the Peaceful Assembly Act is directed against Anwar Ibrahim, the Leader of the Opposition.  The political motivation of this new charge is clear. Having failed to stop Anwar with the trumped up sodomy charge, the Attorney General Gani Patail, at the behest of his political masters, is now trying again in desperation to stop Anwar’s unrelenting march to Putrajaya.

PKR warns Prime Minister Najib that this prosecution makes again a mockery of his claim to making Malaysia the “best democracy in the world”.  We will rally the people of Malaysia to oppose yet another blatant misuse and manipulation of our institutions.  

Sivarasa Rasiah
Majis Pimpinan Pusat Parti Keadilan Rakyat,
Ahli Parlimen Subang
Dicatat oleh di

Tiada ulasan:

Catat Ulasan

Langgan: Catat Ulasan (Atom)

Nuffnang