Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang in Petaling
Jaya
on Sunday, 10th August 2008:
Anwar Sodomy II – Is Rais banking on
support of rogue states like Myanmar, Zimbabwe and Sudan by taking it to
the UN?
The Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais
Yatim is taking his idea of internationalizing the Anwar Ibrahim’s
Sodomy II charge by organizing a series of information sessions by the
Foreign Ministry overseas “to give a true picture so there will be no
misconceptions that can hurt Malaysia’s image” one step further.
Yesterday, he announced raising the issue to the United Nations level
through a letter to the UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to explain
Malaysia's view on what it sees as American interference in the Anwar
Sodomy II charge.
Is Rais banking on the support of rogue states like Myanmar, Zimbabwe
and Sudan by taking the Anwar Sodomy II issue to the United Nations?
Instead of accusing the United States of violating international law and
“meddling in Malaysia’s international affairs”, Rais should lead the
charge in the Cabinet on Wednesday to demand the dropping of the Sodomy
II charge against Anwar especially as a recent opinion survey has shown
that only 11% of the respondents believe in the Sodomy II allegation
made against Anwar.
Rais said Malaysian diplomats overseas had been instructed that they
should defend the country against any negative perceptions arising from
Anwar’s Sodomy II charge – starting with a series of meetings with
foreign governments to explain what is going on, the first will be in
Washington at the end of next month, to be followed by the European
countries.
Before Rais goes international to justify the government’s handling of
the Anwar Sodomy II charge, the government should first convince
Malaysians that the government had acted fairly, justly and honourably
in accordance with the principles of the rule of law in the Anwar Sodomy
II charge.
This should be done when Parliament reconvenes next Monday on August 18
when MPs reconvene for the first day of the budget meeting of
Parliament, with the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
presenting a ministerial statement to justify the government’s handling
of the Anwar Sodomy II charge as fully in accord with justice, fair play
and the rule of law – devoid of any political persecution or selective
prosecution.
This ministerial statement, which should be the first official business
of Parliament on August 18, should be followed by a full parliamentary
debate.
If the Prime Minister is not prepared to present such a ministerial
statement to Parliament to be followed by a debate, what is the use of
the government referring the issue to the United Nations by writing to
its Secretary-General and organizing a series of information sessions in
the foreign capitals of the West?
*
Lim
Kit Siang, DAP
Parliamentary leader & MP for Ipoh Timor
http://dapmalaysia.org