KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim says “he’s prepared for the
worst” as he stares at the prospect of imprisonment once again on a
controversial sodomy charge, but has vowed never to give up his
struggle.The opposition leader, whose forces won a majority of the popular vote in polls last year, faces a late-October final ruling on his appeal against a much-criticised sodomy conviction and five-year jail sentence he denounces as a long-running government smear campaign.
Opinion in Malaysia seems split on whether a regime known for its
rough political tactics will risk a domestic and international backlash
by throwing Anwar — infamously jailed on previous disputed sodomy
charges 15 years ago — into prison again.
But the charismatic campaigner said “it doesn’t look good,” citing an
accelerating government crackdown on civil liberties aimed at
throttling the opposition threat.
“There is certainly concern that they would then use the courts to
secure a (sodomy) conviction, which is really unfortunate in terms of
rule of law in this country,” he said in an interview at his modest
Kuala Lumpur office.
Malaysia’s highest court hears the appeal October 28-29.
Anwar says he is “prepared for the worst” but flashes his trademark
sense of humour in speculating on the quality of the prison tea, medical
care and books.
“I am thinking now of what classics to start with,” he said with a laugh.
“But I am still hopeful sanity will prevail and the highest court in the land will subscribe fully to the facts and the law.”
Source: Malaysia Today...More...
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