Shoud I Be Rejoicing That Anwar Ibrahim Is Arrested ?

Hantu Laut

Public perception of the government is at its lowest ebb and the pre-emptive arrest of Anwar has worsen the situation and made this country looked like a police state.Is there a need to arrest him in such a way and before the dateline when the man has confirmed to present himself voluntarily at the police headquarters.If he was arrested after the expiry of the dateline than nobody should blame the police.

I am not an Anwar fan nor do I believe he would be prime minister in the next few months.If indeed he tries to fortify himself from being arrested, there are other options to get him. The kind of strong arm tactic used by the police should only be used on hardened criminals and Anwar Ibrahim although a nuisance to the government is not a dangerous criminal nor is he a threat to society to be treated in such a manner.

People like me should be rejoicing that Anwar has been arrested but I am not, I am actually sad,disappointed and disgusted at the over-zealousness of the police force and disrespect for human rights and a government that has not learned its lesson.What's the point of sending balacalava-clad police commandos to arrest him, is he armed to the teeth and dangerous?

I disagree with the way Anwar runs his politiking. It has shaken the political stability of this nation and heightened the people's anger at the government but that doesn't mean he is to be treated like a criminal.The government has to carry part of the blame for the problems they have inflicted on themselves. Instead of getting to the roots of the problems and the causes of the people's grievances they have become arrogant,defensive and living in a state of denial.

Anwar Ibrahim would be foolish to refuse meeting the police as that could be construed as an act of guilt. To refuse giving samples for DNA testing is within his rights, the police can't force him to do so.The only way is to get a court order to compel him to do so if such material is crucial in the pursuant of evidence to prove or disprove the case.

To be fair to him and to satisfy public opinion such samples and all other materials should be given to an independent person or institution for testing, no government appointed doctors or government related facilities should be used to conduct such test.

As Anwar had made a report with the ACA against the IGP and the AG, it would be wise for the government to exclude these two gentlemen from getting involved in the case.An independent body comprising experts in the relevent fields should be formed to undertake the job and report directly to the Prime Minister.

In the court of public opinion the government's credibility is at ground zero, unless it takes precautionary measures to alleviate the adverse public opinion and distance itself from being accused of conspiracy to terminate Anwar's political career, this government will end up in the quagmire sooner than later.

Is our government living in paranoia ?

Anwar's Arrest: We Need An Explanation ?

Hantu Laut

It's very puzzling why the police arrested Anwar Ibrahim before the dateline.I thought he was supposed to present himself before 2 p.m. today.They took him in before the prescribed time.Maybe the police have better explanation that the public should know.

In this July 1, 2008 photo, Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim gestures as he speaks in Shah Alam, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Malaysian police issued an arrest warrant for Anwar in connection with a sodomy accusation by a former male aide, his lawyer said

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Anwar bin Ibrahim (born August 10, 1947 in Cherok Tok Kun, Penang, Malaysia) is a former deputy prime minister and finance minister of Malaysia. Early in his career, he became a protégé of the former prime minister of Malaysia, Mahathir bin Mohamad, but subsequently emerged as the most prominent critic of Mahathir's administration.

In 1999, he was sentenced in a highly controversial trial to six years in prison for corruption, and in 2000, to another nine years for alleged homosexual acts. However, in 2004, Malaysia's highest court, the Federal Court reversed the second conviction and he was released.

Anwar is the only Malaysian to ever make it into Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world. He is also one of the signatories of A Common Word Between Us and You, an open letter by Islamic scholars to Christian leaders, calling for peace and understanding.

From 1968 to 1971, as a student, Anwar was the president of a Muslim students organisation, Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM). He was one of the protem committee of Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) or Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia which was founded in 1971. He was also elected President of the Malaysian Youth Council or Majlis Belia Malaysia (MBM). In 1974, Anwar was arrested during student protests against rural poverty and hunger. He was imprisoned under the Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial, and spent twenty months in the Kamunting Detention Center for political prisoners.

Biased Malaysians

Hantu Laut

Many Malaysians were under the impression that it was wrong to take potshots during a debate.What Shabery Cheek did was not personal attack on Anwar's character, it was on past policies and practices when Anwar was one of the policymakers in government.Not exactly a wrong thing to do in a debate.

Watch the next American Presidental Debate and see whether you can pick out how many potshots the candidates throw at each other.

A full transcript of the third and final debate of US Presidential Election 2004 between George Bush(R) and John Kerry(D): is here.

It is not my job to defend Shabery Cheek but I do hope fellow bloggers in particular and Malaysians in general show some impartiality when making judgement and give credit where credit is due.

Anwar is a seasoned orator and should, undoubtedly, shines brighter than newcomer Shabery. Even with less experience and exposure I would say he has done pretty well.

Let us be honest how many politicians in this country would dare to participate in a debate on live TV. Many of them can't even read properly from a prepared text let alone go on live TV scriptless.Give him a few more years I am sure he would be just as good if not better than Anwar.

Such debate would be unthinkable under previous administration.

Anwar Playing To The Gallery

Hantu Laut,

There is no winner or loser in the debate last night.For a less experience politician Ahmad Shabery Cheek has done well against one of the country's most skilled orator.

It goes without saying that Anwar is a better polemicist and his speech is more memorable for its polemic rather than its substance.Anwar is not interested in facts and figures and as an experienced activist and politician he knew what his audience wanted to hear.He outshines Shabery in term of delivery and display of charisma.Anwar was more interested in playing to the gallery, his target audience the proletarian and the kampong folks.His figure of RM1 to 2 billion to subside reduction of fuel price is fancy mathematics to seduce the people to believe him, which he knew is untrue and grossly insufficient, a populist talk according to Shabery.

He failed to raise nuisance value against the government.

Shabery might have shocked most people with his hidden talent.Many have expected him to be eaten alive by Anwar.He came well-armed with facts and figures and reasons why government had no choice but to increase the price of oil.He tried to kill the myth that Malaysia is a substantial oil-producing country and have quoted Venezuela and Iran as countries that have the cheapest price of petrol but have double digit inflation.He,however, forgot to mention that even at the current price the government still subsidise part of the cost.Aside from taking cheap shots at Anwar, which was unnecessary, he had done well and came out unscathed.

Both came out well, Anwar may be the star but Shabery Cheek is the real surprise and a rising star.