A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Sunday, July 16, 2017
Malaysian opposition to release Anwar ‘within a week’ if it takes power – Dr Mahathir
By A. Azim Idris |
Dr Mahathir booted Anwar, his former deputy, from Cabinet in 1998
Anwar and Dr Wan Azizah during a press conference after Malaysia’s 2013 election. Source: AP/Vincent Thian
MALAYSIA’S former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Friday said opposition
alliance Pakatan Harapan (Hope’s Pact) is committing to the process of
releasing imprisoned de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim within one week if it
assumes power in the next general elections.
The former premier, who was recently appointed Pakatan Harapan chairman,
said the opposition pact would seek a royal pardon for Anwar who is
currently serving a five-year prison sentence for his second sodomy
conviction.
“We will wait for the law to take its course, not immediately because
the prime minister who takes over will have a lot to do,” the statesman,
who ruled the country for 22 years, told reporters after attending the
pact’s presidential council meeting early Friday morning.
Dr Mahathir, who defected to the opposition after a fallout with the
ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno) party led by
scandal-ridden Prime Minister Najib Razak, said this in response to
questions on whether Anwar would become prime minister if the opposition
secures a victory against the Barisan Nasional coalition in the polls
due in 2018.
At the meeting, Pakatan Harapan – formerly known as Pakatan Rakyat
(People’s Pact) – made key appointments including Dr Mahathir’s
designation as chair while Anwar was named the opposition bloc’s de
facto leader. Anwar’s wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, was appointed as
the pact’s president.
Anwar is currently serving his prison sentence at the Sungai Buloh
Prison centre, where he was sent upon his conviction two years ago.
He was jailed in February 2015 after his appeal against an earlier 2014 sodomy conviction was rejected by the High Court.
There have been several attempts to free him via the courts and through
appealing for a royal pardon, all of which have proven unsuccessful.
Anwar has long claimed the charges against him were
politically-motivated as the conviction disqualifies him from political
office.
In June, New York-based Human Rights Foundation (HRF) urged the
Malaysian public to send letters addressed to the country’s head of
state, known as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, to appeal for Anwar’s
immediate release.
The foundation claimed the sodomy charges that led to Anwar’s conviction
in 2014 were “trumped-up” and lacked DNA evidence. The charges, it
said, also saw inconsistent testimony of his accuser and alleged
tampering of evidence by a policeman in the case.
Dr Mahathir booted Anwar, his former deputy, from Cabinet in 1998 when
he was embroiled in allegations of power abuse and sexual misconduct.
Anwar’s dismissal and subsequent imprisonment spurned the creation of
the “Reformasi” (reformation) movement and the formation of Parti
Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), or People’s Justice Party, the lynchpin of the
federal Pakatan Harapan pact.
However, following his fallout with Najib over the massive 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, Dr Mahathir set aside his long-time rivalry with Anwar in order to oust the Najib administration.
PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil told Asian Correspondent , the influential Dr Mahathir would be playing a key role in the opposition fold.
“As chairman, Tun Dr Mahathir will coordinate and chair the Presidential
Council meetings to maximize our efforts to win GE14 (the 14th General
Elections),” he said.
Mahathir, who turned 92 last week, was also tipped to head the
government again if the opposition alliance wins, but Pakatan Harapan is
yet to confirm whether Mahathir or Anwar would be prime minister.
“PM nominee will be announced at a later date,” Fahmi said.