Conspiracy Translation of Anwar Ibrahim's letter to Dr Mahathir, dated August 25, J998

40 Pages·2012·8.16 MB·English

Justice Must Prevail
..
The very independence of our nation is diminished each time
the fundamental liberties of our citizens are brutally assaulted.
11
o the Games have be have rocked the nation. Indeed But there can be no real freedom
gun! Malaysians have foreign journalists covering the if injustice prevails. There can be
been distracted by the Games have found more inter norealfreedomifMalaysiansare
spectacle of the much esting and newsworthy items to denied natural justice and the in
hyped Commonwealth Games, report outside the various stadi herent basic rights that are be
soon after the Merdeka celebra ums and sports arenas. stowed upon us by the God we
tions that marked our 41st year profess to belie~e in. Indeed, the
of independence. The political leadership had veryindependenceofournation
hoped that the Commonwealth is diminished each time the fun
The sports extravaganza threat Games would usher in a wave damentalliberties of our citizens
ens to push the controversial of patriotism to lift the droop are brutally assaulted.
sacking of Deputy Prime Minis ing spirits of Malaysians strug
ter Anwar Ibrahim and lUs ex gling to cope with the reces By definition, therefore, we can
pulsion from the dominant sion. The trappings of patrio not profess to be patriotic if we
United Malays National tism - flags fluttering all over are not concerned about freedom
Organisation into the back town, feel-good songs over the and basic rights.
ground. television, a sense of achieve
ment over Malaysia's sporting Even as we marvel at the records
Hosting the Games was meant successes - are there for all to being shattered at the Common
to showcase to the world that see. wealth Game::. and the superb
Malaysia had come of age in the conditioning or the participating
international community. Ap But, on reflection, the sense of athletes a sense of uneasiness
parently, some quarters believe pride thatis being promoted bor envelops U5 like a thick dark
we have much to show off: the ders on the superficial; it's a shal shroud.
glittering RM10 billion new low form of patriotism. A closer
Kuala Lumpur IntemationalAir look will reveal many instances Of late, we have seen how power
port; gleaming skyscrapers in of injustice clouding thehorizon. has become even more
cluding the world's tallest build centralised at the top and how
ings, the Petronas Twin Towers; Real patriotism goes deeper than democratic institutions have
the impressive new Bukit Jalil mere symbols of national pride. been undermined.
main stadium. It is far removed from the blind
patriotism that refuses to The deputy prime miruster's
Sure enough, Malaysia has be recognise the truth and to see the postL-. now vacant after Am··ar's
come a household name across warts behind the beauty. sacking. The one-time ~ eir ap
the globe. But what has captured parent now faces a sle' . OJ seri
the attention of the foreign me A real patriot passionately fights ous allegations that ha ~ )t.t to
dia and visitors from abroad, for the freedom and rights of rus be proven.
apart from the Games proper, are or her fellow citizens so that they
the effects of the recession and can live in peace, happiness, and It is not for us, ordin;•rv 1\fal.ay
the political shock-waves that prosperity. sians, to judge An· ar prema
Aliron Monthly September 1998: 18(8) Poge 2
Justice Must Prevail
Uphold Principles Of Natural Justice
All Over? Or All Over Again?
Sacking Of Anwar: Responses
Lies And Political Conspiracy U
No Thanks To Badawi
Trampling On Human Rights 26
Responses To Lim Guan Eng's
Jail Sentence 32
Lim Guan Eng's Wife: No Regrets 35
16
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Aliron Monthly September 1998: 18(8) Page 3
turely. Any proper judgement is events of the past year. the director of operations of a
best left to an independent court. popular television station were
Anwar should be allowed to de Ten years after the infamous as- replaced.
fend himself. Instead, we have sault on the judiciary in 1988
witnessed how the media were when Lord President Salleh Eighteen activists, including
shamelessly used to all qut pro Abas and two other Supreme three Malaysians were held in
nounce Anwar guilty before he Court judges were unceremoni Burma when attempting to dis
was given a chance to defend ously dumped, question marks tribute messages of goodwill
himself. still hang over the judiciary's in and freedom to mark the 10'1 an
dependence. niversary of the people's upris
The allegations, if true, wilJ ing in that land. They were re
surely dent Anwar's image. UN Special Rapporteur for the leased only after an international
Even if they are true, the way Independence of Judges and outcry. Tellingly, the Malaysian
Anwar was ruthlessly hounded Lawyers Param Cumaraswamy government maintained a
out of political power left a bad is himself the target of libel steady silence.
taste in the mouth. Sure, the charges which the courts have
Prime Minister has the right to refused to throw out. But all this pales in comparison
dismiss him from the Cabinet with the ouster of President
but who can't fail to be disturbed Economic control and policy Suharto of Indonesia -followed
by the manner it was done? making have been taken out of by the dramatic events of recent
the Cabinet and placed in the weeks in Malaysia.
Anwar now faces a prolonged hands of the National Economic
court battle to clear his name. Action Council - or more spe- Some activists feel that the time
Worse, he could be detained. If dfically, in the hands of Daim for reform has come. Others
he is, the former social activist Zainuddin, Mahathir's most want to snuff out such a natural
who rose meteorically up the trusted ally. Worryingly, neither quest for freedom before it sinks
ranks to become the number hvo seems answerable to Parliament, its roots deep.
person in the country will be in and by extension, the public.
good company. But real reform, however, must
Exchange controls and controls begin with il1temal change- in
Opposition stalwart and Mem on capital flows - which many our hearts and minds. Without
ber of Parliament, Lim Guan analysts have welcomed in the that, it is meanin~less.
Eng, seen as a potential leader of short run - were introduced
the Democratic Action Party without public discussion. The We are now at a cross-roads in
(DAP) languishes-all but forgot long term repercussions on an our nation's history. We need to
ten now-behind bars on charges economy that is so dependent on explore new frontiers and sail
of 'sedition' and 'publishing foreign capital for growth have through uncharted waters in our
false news' on the alleged statu not been adequately discussed in search for true freedom, and jus
tory rape of a 15-year-old school a wider forum. tice. As we embark on this jour
girl by the former Malacca chief ney, our prayers go out to all
minister. Parliament, to all intents and tho~e who are denied freedom
purposes, is now a pale shadow and justice. We are one with
This silencing of outspoken of its former self. 1t has been re- them.
voices and potential challengers duced to a mere monument to a
to the political leadership should system of parliamentary democ Take heart, justice will triumph
be seen in the wider context of racy that was once the pride of uJtimatelv. For now, we will do
developments in recent months. the region. well to remember that we are all
In a sense, the ominous smog stewards of God. As stewards
that shrouded the region last The media were further sup we have a responsibility to en
September proved to be the cur pressed when the editors of two sure that Justice and Truth
tain-raiser for the tumultuous leading Malay newspapers and should prevail. 0
Ali ron Monthly September 1998: 18(8) Page 4
Uphold Principles Of
Natural Justice
Whatever his alleged crimes may be, Anwar should be charged
in open court to establish the truth of the allegations
l l
liran is deeply dis tions. He should be given ev the country."
tressed at the outland ery opportunity to defend
ish allegations lev himself and clear his name. It makes a mockery of our pro
elled at Anwar in one of the This would be conduct befit fessed allegiance to transpar
four affidavits filed in the ting a civil society - conduct ency when Malaysians remain
High Court yesterday. It is im that will not sully our civilised in the dark as to why Anwar
portant to bear in mind, how notion of justice. was dismissed. It is no longer
ever, that they are only allega a party matter. Anwar is ana
tions as of now. The fact is the If, on the other hand, all legiti tional leader and if his alleged
truth of these allegations have mate avenues are blocked and crimes are so serious as to war
not yet been verified or estab the doors of the democratic rant his dismissal, Malaysians
lished. process are slammed in have a right to know the rea
Anwar's face, it will take little son.
Aliran desperately hopes that persuasion to believe his claim
Anwar will not be detained that there was indeed a high This right to know should not
under either the obnoxious level conspiracy to topple him. be confused with the Prime
Internal Security Act or the The evidence that Anwar Minister's prerogative to ap
despicable Official Secrets Act. claims to possess - "docu point or dismiss a member of
Both are undemocratic laws. ments, tapes and statutory the Cabinet. Nobody is ques
The ISA and other similar dra declarations under oath" -to tioning that prerogative. But,
conian laws shamelessly deny deflect all these nefarious al as citizens, we have a right to
an accused the fundamental legations and to prove his in know why a leader is being
right of self-defence that he or nocence should be scrutinised dismissed. It is not something
she is entitled to under the in an open court of law. to be confined among 41 indi
principles of natural justice. It viduals behind closed doors.
is precisely because the ISA As a human being, he de
can be used to stifle critics and serves that right. It doesn't Besides disclosing the reasons,
dissenting views that Aliran speak well for the state of we hope the government will
and other groups in the coun justice in our country when also dispel the sinister feeling
try have vehemently opposed the number two man has to that is emerging of a possible
this patently unjust law. cry out for justice. It is very crackdown against activists
depressing to hear Anwar's and dissidents.
Whatever his alleged crimes plea for justice: "If I as num
may be, Anwar should be ber two man in the country P Rmnakrishrum
charged in open court to estab cannot be assured of justice, President
lish the truth of the allega- then it is a great shame for 4 September 1998
Ali ran Monthly September 1998: 18(8) Page 5
All Or All Over Again?
Ov~r?
What we lose from Anwar~ fall
by Khoo Boo Teik
g
alaysians who insist on personal problem'. Nor is it a credentials was sullied without
their right to challenge mere issue of the prime his having any real chance of
those in political minister's prerogative in sack defending himself.
power have always ing his deputy over policy dif
had to expect heavy-handed ac ferences. A father of six children, and
tion from the authorities. Deten long portrayed as a man of Is
tion without trial, prosecution The manner of Anwar's dis lam, he stands accused of sor
for sedition, dismissal from of missal exposes it as a political did sexual misconduct. A poli
fice, unfair media treatment - manoeuvre to expel him from tici~m who started as a Malay
the threats to personal liberty, UMNO so as to pre-empt any nationalist, he is tarred with in
freedom of expression, and in challenge to Dr Mahathir.lt is a sinuations of being 'anti-na
dividual reputation go on and problem affecting all the pow tional' if not a 'foreign agent'.
on. erful people in UMNO, the gov A person who made his repu
ernment, and the corporate tation as a campaigner for so
For 16 years, between 1982 and world, whom Anwar has cial and political reforms, he
1998, Datuk Seri Anwar antagonised in one way or an faces d1arges of corruption.
Ibrahim belonged to all the win other.
ning teams -- Datuk Seri Dr And although successive
Mahathir Mohamad's govern Let us not be naive. Anwar is UMNO general assemblies
ment, UMNO's 'Team X, and not your innocent bystander - elected, and re-elected, him as
the Barisan Nasional -- that pelanduk yang mati di tengah their Deputy President, it took
monopolised heavy-handed tengah. He is a seasoned politi just one Supreme Council meet
action against their opponents. cal gajah who played for the ing to terminate his party
highest stakes in the power memberh ip.
Thus, who could have pre game, and lost.
dicted that someone as power Before 2 September, Anwar was
ful as Anwar could so suddenly But let us be decent. The execu DPM and UMXO Deputy
be subjected to 'all the powers tion of Anwar's fall was repul President. The L~ 0 politi
of government' imaginable? sive. It was vile even by the low cians and a supine press
standards of political behaviour couldn't angknt him enough as
From hero to villain we have seen in recent years. Dr Mahathir's 'annointed suc
In 48 hours cessor'. After 2 September, the
In just 48 hours, Anwar was same politicians and the same
We are not a stu.pid or uncaring thrown out of high office, press run him d0\'\"1\ as if he's
people. No matter what his en threatened with prosecution the lowest form of low life.
emies in UMNO and their ser and arrest, smeared by the me
vants say through their mass dia, and expelled from his party. Have the lJMI',;O politicians
media, Anwar's fall is not 'his Virtually every one of Anwar's abandoned all sense oi Malay
Aliron Monthly September 1998: 18(8) Page 6
etiquette and common Malay false, it'd be too bad for seen in Malaysian politics?
sian decency? Have they be Anwar's enemies: he'd emerge
come so contemptuous of us as a martyr. Then, Malaysians Obviously, popular attitudes
that they believe the public will would want to ask: How has towards Anwar will be critical,
not see through their grotesque our political system so degen assuming he has not lost all
wayang? erated that it spawned the most credibility. But will sufficiently
cynical character assassination large numbers of voters support
Which slcle of our modern history? him either in sympathy, or out
are you on? of protest, or even in the hope
An Anwar
that he represents a new way
co~nellack?
No doubt Malaysians con forward in Malaysian politics?
cerned with the truth will long Malaysians and foreign observ Or will too many voters worry
continue to ask: Are all the alle ers who are chiefly interested in that an Anwar challenge will be
gations against Anwar true? the politics of Anwar's fall can too destabilizing, and opt for
raise endless questions about 'stability and development' un
The blindly anti-Anwar people his plans and prospects for a der Barisan Nasional?
will accept (and use) them with comeback.
out further ado. The solidly pro Such questions are intriguing
Anw ar people will reject them Let us assume that Anwar re whether one is a coffeeshop
out of hand. fuses to fade away. Further as gossip, a journalist, an academi
sume that his opponents don't cian, or a political plotter. These
Many people belong to neither stop him in other ways, such as questions can only be answered
camp. But few can resist tor jailing him like a common with time.
rents of fihzah and tomah, surat criminal, or detaining him un
layarzg andsurat khabar. Or they der the ISA. Will Anwar then One critical question, however,
think it's their duty to 'trust our start a new political party, join can and must be answered now:
leaders' completely. Between an existing party, or build a 're What does Anwar's departure
the two choices, they may form movement'? If he tries any mean for ordinary Malaysians?
hedge their bets and say, 'There of these -- or something else -
Father ancl son
is no smoke without fire.' how many of Anwar's 'boys' in
UMNO will ra11y around him When Anwar joined UMNO in
But Malaysians must insist that outside UMNO? Has the sup 1982, he disappointed not a few
the only principled answer is: posed 'Anwar majority' in people.
We don't know unless and until UMNO switched allegiance, or
those allegations are stringently is it merely lying low? Some people had been close to
tested in a fair and open trial pre him during the 1974 Baling
sided by judges of unimpeachable Naturally his staunchest sup demonstrations, for which he
credentials. porters will hope that Anwar (among others) was imprisoned
succeeds where Datuk Musa without trial for two years, and
If the allegations, so tested, Hitam and Tengku Razaleigh were upset that he planned to
prove to be true, it'd be too bad Hamzah had failed. In that case, support a government that
for Anwar: he can fade away. what will Anwar's political would not renounce the use of
But, then, Malaysians would platform consist of? Will he re the ISA.
want to ask: How could Anwar turn to champion Malay inter
have fooled so many politicians ests and a more resurgent Islam, Others had cooperated with
in such high positions for so or will he try a new hand at Anwar in 1981 to form a broad
long? multiracial politics? Can he in social movement to oppose the
vent another wawasan to inspire notorious amendments to the
If the allegations prove to be a degree of social reform not yet Societies Act, and regretted that
Aliron Monthly September 1998. 18(81 Page 7
he had chosen to enter the party and corrupt than anyone could fore, Anwar came to stand for
responsible for those amend- remember. refonn in such ways as to be seen
ments. as a real threat to the combina
Then Anwar seemed to pay at tion of Dr Mahathir, Tun Daim
Yet others regarded hlm as a tention to low-cost housing, Zainuddin, and the tokoh
leader of the 'Islamiu resur lower-cost health care and so korporat.
gence' in Malaysia, and thought lutions to social ills. Maybe his
Anwar's return?
he had made a big mistake in sentiments were genuine, and
not joining PAS if he had to join would have been translated What happened after that we
any political party at all. into policies if he became prime know.
minister. Maybe he was only
Those misgivings never caused trying to enlarge his political There is no need to romanticize
Anwar to look back 0n his ei't base. At least someone was talk or idealize Anwar or to create
try into UMNO. His political ing about things that mattered legends about him. Like any
career rose very swiftly - to the little guys, the ruraJ folk, other politician, he has his am
Pemuda UMNO President in labour, the poor, the sick, and bitions, agenda and, yes, even
1982, UMNO Vice-President in the 'socially deviant' teenagers. cronies.
1987, and UMNO Deputy Presi
dent in 1993. Anwar, assisted by his think What then does Anwar's dis
tankers, launched a pet project missal mean for ordinary Ma
By the time he established him which variously spoke of 'car laysians if they are not to be dis
self as 'No. 2', his relationship ing civil society, sustainable tracted by a number of Ss -
with 'No.1' had reportedly be development, empowerment, 'shocking measures', SUI< OM,
come so close tltat Anwar lik cultural renaissance, and of sensationalism and stock mar
ened himself to being a son to Malaysians belonging to 'one ket?
Dr Mahathir. family. Maybe it was mostly
rhetoric. But it addressed the It means the loss of a potential
DiHerences
concerns of broad sections of counter-balance to policies
Throughout that period, Anwar the Malaysian populace who which place the interests of the
was by Dr Mahathir 's side"' and wanted a more democratic, lib corporate world far above the
supported his policies. But, like eral, just, or Islamic society. concerns of the 'grassroots'. It
Musa Hitam in the mid-1980s, means the loss of yet another
Anwar began to project an im Perhaps that's why a number of check on the concentration of
age of being more open, ap the dissidents of Malaysian power in the hands of the Ex
proachable and caring, unlike politics, having parted ways ecutive. lt means the worsening
the blunt, harsh, and uncom with him in 1982, continued to erosion of civil and democratic
promising Dr Mahathir. view Deputy Prime Minister rights.
Anwar as an unfulfilled ABIM
The pre-July 1997 economic activist. If Anwar plans to 'rehrrn' and
boom fostered a relentless and 'start all over again', his 'old
competitive pursuit of wealth in Perhaps that's why, under the .friends' in the political opposi
Malaysia. Soon, Wawasan 2020 present crisjs, they and many tion, Islamic organizations. and
practically meant nothing more others thought it credible that NGOs must ask him how he in
than privatisation, Malaysia Anwar, as the Minister of Fi tends to make this society better.
Inc., the KLSE, tokoh korporat, nance, would be a reformer
and the mega projects. Many against korupsi, kronisme, And thls time Anwar's answer
Malaysians were uneasy that nepotisme. would have to be better than
our society had become more what he offered the past 16
consumerist, callous, cronyist, Wittingly or unwittingly, there- years.O
Aliron Monthly September 1998: 18(8) Poge 8
An Open Letter To
YB Dato' Seri AnVIar Ibrahim
q ero ~!fo Jlfl tlJe i lw; JJifl(
However,Iamnotwritingthis of certain accusations
letter to you in an attempt to brought against him, The
giveyouacharacterreference Prime Miniser prevented
or to defend you against the this by declaring that a man
charges that have been lev- should be considered inno
elled against you. Nor do I cent until proven otherwise.
write in order to take sides in I admired the Prime
any debate on economic Minister's stand on that oc
policy in which you may have casion. But the same prin
been involved. I am not in a ciple does not appear to have
position to comment on these been applied in your case.
things.
g I believe that my feelings of
take the liberty of I am writing to you simply to dismay and disgust at the way
writing to you be express my utter revulsion you are being treated are
cause as one of your and disgust at the manner in shared by many Malaysians
former teachers at the Malay which you have been regardless of race or political
College Kuala Kangsar I both hounded from your position affiliation. If one of the most
know you and remember you in the Government and in powerful figures in the land
as one of the most promising UMNO. It has been a nau can be degraded and humili
and open-minded students seating experience to witness ated in such a swift, biased
that it has ever been my privi not of your preemptory dis and twisted fashion, what
lege to teach. Of course, this missal from office - that is a hope is there for the rest of us,
does not give the right to claim legitimate risk which all ordinary citizens of this coun
any special relationship with politicians must be prepared try?
you, but it does mean that I to face - but the purported
have been able to follow your attempt which is being made What hope indeed is there for
political career since you left through the media to destroy our country if this is how po
MCKK and recognise the you as a person even before litical power is exercised?
same traits of open you have been given the
mindedness and idealism that chance to defend yourself. I conclude with the fervent
characterised your attitudes as prayers that in the end true
a student. I recall how a few years ago, justice will be done and that
when calls were raised for you will be vindicated.
For this reason I am all the the Chief Minister of Mal
more appalled by the crisis acca to be stripped of his D. f. Muzaffar Tate
that has now overtaken you. powers and position because Kuala Lumpur
Aliron Monthly September 1998: T8 (81 Page 9
Greatly Concerned
Ancl Disturbed
Failure to account for the dismissal of the Deputy Prime Minister
will certainly give credence to the conspiracy theory
e are greatly con vestiges of credibility that this raises the fear that oppressive
cerned and disturbed government has. laws such as the ISA and the
by the manner in OSA will be used to ensure the
which Datuk Seri Anwar Furthermore, failure to ac political survival of Mahathir
Ibrahim has been summarily count properly for the dis and his cronies. Malaysians,
dismissed by the Prime Min missal of the Deputy Prime regardless of creed, race and
ister. The total lack of transpar Minister will certainly give political ideology should
ency in this episode is a re credence to the conspiracy stand up to protest against any
flection of the utter contempt theory that is being widely such repression of their fun
and disregard that the Prime propagated. In fact, the damental rights and
Minister has for the views of events surrounding the dis liberties.O
the people of the country. missal of Anwar strongly in
dicate that there is a politi .lolnt p .... state•_,
The dismissal of a Deputy cal conspiracy to remove
Signed by:
Prime Minister and Finance him from all positions of
1.Amnesty International (Pro
Minister during a time of se power. The people of the tem Malaysia Group)
vere economic crisis is a mat country have a right to be 2.AWAM (All Women's Action
ter of great concernfor the citi fully informed of the real Society) 3.CENPEACE (Cen
zens of the country. This is all situation. tre for Peace Initiatives)
the more so, when until days 4.COAC (Centre for Ora11g
ago, the Prime Minister had If indeed Anwar is guilty of Asli Concerns) 5.DAP(Demo
cratic Action Party) 6./NSAN
assured the people that all was serious crimes which warrant
(Institute for Social Alralysis)
well between him and his his dismissal, he should be
7.LRC (Labour Resource Cen
deputy. The people have a charged in open court and
tre) 8.MTUC (Malaysian
right to know the reasons for given a fair and independent
Trades Union Congress)
this sudden change of senti hearing. The unsubstantiated 9.Persatu.atl Sahabat Wanita
ment. Failure to provide a full affidavits, vague insinuations 10.PRM (Parti Ralcyat Mlllay
and reasonable explanation of of treason and other nebulous sia) ll.SCR (Society for Chris
the events leading to the dis accusations that have been tum Reflection) 12.Selilngor
missal of Anwar, and the rea presented today through the Chinese Assembly Hall, Youth
sons for it will only lead the media without right of reply Section 13.SUARAM (Suara
Rakyat Malaysia)
people to believe that they are unacceptable.
14.TENAGANITA 15.WDC
have been deliberately misled
(Women's Developmmt Collec
all this while, give rise to wild This action on the part of the
tive)
speculation and erode the last Prime Minister once again
Ali ron Monthly September 1998: 18(8) Page 10