Opposition
leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will start a five-year inprisonment
after his appeal against conviction and sentence for sodomy was
dismissed by the Federal Court in Putrajaya today.
His
second sodomy case starting in 2008 did not attract the crowds that
surged in his 1998 case but support has grown for the sacked deputy
prime minister and his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition in the intervening
years.
Despite his sodomy charge, Anwar and PR raked in more supporters among the electorate in the 2013 polls, taking in 52% of the popular vote and again denying the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) of its two-thirds parliamentary super-majority.
Here is The Malaysian Insider's view of the winners and losers from today's decision by the five-man bench of the Federal Court. WINNERS
1. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
Malaysia's
longest-serving prime minister sacked Anwar in 1998, ostensibly on
sodomy and power abuse charges, although it was widely seen as a move to
preempt a party coup.
Since then Anwar has been Dr Mahathir's (pic) number one political enemy, and was jailed for six years in 1999. Anwar was acquitted in 2004 when Dr Mahathir's successor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was in power.
Anwar and his allies broke BN's hold in the 2008 and 2013 polls, threatening Dr Mahathir's legacy and putting him in contention as a future prime minister. His latest conviction and imprisonment has all but ensured he will not be PM.
It also paves the way for Dr Mahathir to remain focused on his campaign to keep Umno in power, which includes removing leaders whom he feels are unsuitable to lead the party.
2. Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah
The
Umno lawyer was named to lead the prosecution's appeal against Anwar's
acquittal of committing sodomy by the High Court in 2012. He
successfully led the prosecution in both appeals at the Court of Appeal
and the Federal Court.
Shafee (pic, left)) won both, although his star dimmed recently over a Home Minister's letter vouching for the integrity of his client Paul Phua, who is facing charges in the United States with running a World Cup football online betting ring.
There has been speculation that a victory against Anwar will strengthen Shafee's chance of becoming the Attorney-General once incumbent Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail retires from office this year.
3. Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang
The PAS president has never sat easy with Anwar in a rivalry that goes back to their days in the Islamist student group Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) in the late 1970s.
Politically, they were divided too with Hadi joining PAS in 1978 and Anwar joining Umno in 1982. Anwar progressed in Umno and the government under Dr Mahathir's mentorship until 1998 when he was sacked.
That sacking reunited the duo against Umno but the rivalry and Anwar's ease at handling both international and domestic politics have always put Hadi (pic, right) a step behind.
The Selangor leadership change called the Kajang Move saw Hadi refusing to play ball with Anwar's PKR and the DAP resulting in several months of impasse and frosty ties.
With Anwar in jail, the ultra-conservative Hadi can exert a greater influence over PR which is likely to be led by PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah in the interim.
LOSERS
1. Malaysia
The country of 30 million people is further divided after two divisive elections, and two sodomy trials involving Anwar over the past 17 years.
Although the crowds have thinned since Anwar's 1999 sodomy conviction, more people have voted for his opposition alliance than ever before in the past two elections.
His latest sodomy conviction adds to the growing gloom in a country that is facing lower revenues from falling oil and palm oil prices apart from a weaker currency. Uncertainty over strategic investor 1MDB's financials have further clouded the country's economy even as people brace for an unpopular consumption tax.
The latest Anwar sodomy verdict has also put the spotlight back on Malaysia's judiciary and its judgments although Putrajaya took just 10 minutes today to insist the judiciary remains independent of the executive.
2. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
He might say he continues to fight the good fight but the popular politician turns 68 in August and any early release will only come in 40 months when he is at least 71.
And with a further five-year bar at the end of his jail term from contesting in any election, Anwar can only legally run for public office when he is 76.
In other words, the latest jail sentence has all but killed his political prospects.
3. Datuk Seri Najib Razak
For the prime minister, there is no equal in Umno or BN to take him on. He might be unpopular and performed worse than Abdullah at the polls but he remains the only viable leader in the ruling coalition.
His only adversary has always been Anwar, who led Najib and others as the Team Wawasan in the 1993 Umno party polls.
But an imprisoned Anwar now makes Najib a sitting duck for Dr Mahathir's ire and growing disenchantment with the prime minister's social and economic policies apart from the debt-heavy 1MDB impacting the government.
On the international scene, today's Anwar verdict will draw further criticisms from world leaders who have been impressed with Najib's moderate Islam credentials. They have been worried about his volte face over sedition laws but the Anwar decision will further erode their trust in the prime minister's reform agenda.
Najib will also have to take into account the verdict's impact when he next leads BN at the polls. The sodomy charge that hung over Anwar only attracted more votes in 2013 and his imprisonment now can only get the opposition even more votes.
4. Umno and Barisan Nasional
The perceived injustice over the Anwar verdict, and the lack of action and long imprisonment for government figures said to be corrupt, will only push people away from Umno and the other BN parties.
Umno itself suffers from warlords who want to keep power and push away young and capable politicians from running for office in the party or government. The Anwar verdict will only attract them to join PR and move up faster through the ranks.
It is the same with other BN component parties, where infighting and old leaders' reluctance to give way to younger members will only push away Malaysians who are conscious of their rights and able to exert more influence through social media.
As it is, the DAP and PKR have recruited younger members at the expense of Umno and its allies. The Anwar verdict will exacerbate the exodus to PR and hasten the death of non-Malay parties in BN. – February 10, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/winners-and-losers-in-sodomy-2#sthash.4wrbQUvT.dpuf
-->
His
second sodomy case starting in 2008 did not attract the crowds that
surged in his 1998 case but support has grown for the sacked deputy
prime minister and his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition in the intervening
years.Despite his sodomy charge, Anwar and PR raked in more supporters among the electorate in the 2013 polls, taking in 52% of the popular vote and again denying the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) of its two-thirds parliamentary super-majority.
Here is The Malaysian Insider's view of the winners and losers from today's decision by the five-man bench of the Federal Court. WINNERS
1. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
Malaysia's
longest-serving prime minister sacked Anwar in 1998, ostensibly on
sodomy and power abuse charges, although it was widely seen as a move to
preempt a party coup.Since then Anwar has been Dr Mahathir's (pic) number one political enemy, and was jailed for six years in 1999. Anwar was acquitted in 2004 when Dr Mahathir's successor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was in power.
Anwar and his allies broke BN's hold in the 2008 and 2013 polls, threatening Dr Mahathir's legacy and putting him in contention as a future prime minister. His latest conviction and imprisonment has all but ensured he will not be PM.
It also paves the way for Dr Mahathir to remain focused on his campaign to keep Umno in power, which includes removing leaders whom he feels are unsuitable to lead the party.
2. Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah
The
Umno lawyer was named to lead the prosecution's appeal against Anwar's
acquittal of committing sodomy by the High Court in 2012. He
successfully led the prosecution in both appeals at the Court of Appeal
and the Federal Court.Shafee (pic, left)) won both, although his star dimmed recently over a Home Minister's letter vouching for the integrity of his client Paul Phua, who is facing charges in the United States with running a World Cup football online betting ring.
There has been speculation that a victory against Anwar will strengthen Shafee's chance of becoming the Attorney-General once incumbent Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail retires from office this year.
3. Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang
The PAS president has never sat easy with Anwar in a rivalry that goes back to their days in the Islamist student group Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) in the late 1970s.
Politically, they were divided too with Hadi joining PAS in 1978 and Anwar joining Umno in 1982. Anwar progressed in Umno and the government under Dr Mahathir's mentorship until 1998 when he was sacked.
That sacking reunited the duo against Umno but the rivalry and Anwar's ease at handling both international and domestic politics have always put Hadi (pic, right) a step behind.
The Selangor leadership change called the Kajang Move saw Hadi refusing to play ball with Anwar's PKR and the DAP resulting in several months of impasse and frosty ties.
With Anwar in jail, the ultra-conservative Hadi can exert a greater influence over PR which is likely to be led by PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah in the interim.
LOSERS
1. Malaysia
The country of 30 million people is further divided after two divisive elections, and two sodomy trials involving Anwar over the past 17 years.
Although the crowds have thinned since Anwar's 1999 sodomy conviction, more people have voted for his opposition alliance than ever before in the past two elections.
His latest sodomy conviction adds to the growing gloom in a country that is facing lower revenues from falling oil and palm oil prices apart from a weaker currency. Uncertainty over strategic investor 1MDB's financials have further clouded the country's economy even as people brace for an unpopular consumption tax.
The latest Anwar sodomy verdict has also put the spotlight back on Malaysia's judiciary and its judgments although Putrajaya took just 10 minutes today to insist the judiciary remains independent of the executive.
2. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
He might say he continues to fight the good fight but the popular politician turns 68 in August and any early release will only come in 40 months when he is at least 71.
And with a further five-year bar at the end of his jail term from contesting in any election, Anwar can only legally run for public office when he is 76.
In other words, the latest jail sentence has all but killed his political prospects.
3. Datuk Seri Najib Razak
For the prime minister, there is no equal in Umno or BN to take him on. He might be unpopular and performed worse than Abdullah at the polls but he remains the only viable leader in the ruling coalition.
His only adversary has always been Anwar, who led Najib and others as the Team Wawasan in the 1993 Umno party polls.
But an imprisoned Anwar now makes Najib a sitting duck for Dr Mahathir's ire and growing disenchantment with the prime minister's social and economic policies apart from the debt-heavy 1MDB impacting the government.
On the international scene, today's Anwar verdict will draw further criticisms from world leaders who have been impressed with Najib's moderate Islam credentials. They have been worried about his volte face over sedition laws but the Anwar decision will further erode their trust in the prime minister's reform agenda.
Najib will also have to take into account the verdict's impact when he next leads BN at the polls. The sodomy charge that hung over Anwar only attracted more votes in 2013 and his imprisonment now can only get the opposition even more votes.
4. Umno and Barisan Nasional
The perceived injustice over the Anwar verdict, and the lack of action and long imprisonment for government figures said to be corrupt, will only push people away from Umno and the other BN parties.
Umno itself suffers from warlords who want to keep power and push away young and capable politicians from running for office in the party or government. The Anwar verdict will only attract them to join PR and move up faster through the ranks.
It is the same with other BN component parties, where infighting and old leaders' reluctance to give way to younger members will only push away Malaysians who are conscious of their rights and able to exert more influence through social media.
As it is, the DAP and PKR have recruited younger members at the expense of Umno and its allies. The Anwar verdict will exacerbate the exodus to PR and hasten the death of non-Malay parties in BN. – February 10, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/winners-and-losers-in-sodomy-2#sthash.4wrbQUvT.dpuf
Kes Liwat II: Mahkamah putuskan Anwar bersalah, kekal
hukuman penjara 5 tahun
T K Letchumy
Tamboo, Astro Awani | Kemas kini: Februari 10, 2015
(Diterbitkan pada: Februari 10, 2015 14:18 MYT)
(Diterbitkan pada: Februari 10, 2015 14:18 MYT)
Read more at: http://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/kes-liwat-ii-mahkamah-putuskan-anwar-bersalah-kekal-hukuman-penjara-5-tahun-53667?cp
PUTRAJAYA:
Mahkamah Persekutuan mengekalkan hukuman penjara lima tahun ke atas Ketua
Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Keputusan itu disampaikan pada jam 2.05 petang tadi.
Mahkamah Persekutuan mendapati Anwar bersalah atas kesalahan meliwat bekas pembantunya Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan tujuh tahun lalu.
Keputusan itu disampaikan oleh Ketua Hakim Negara, Tun Arifin Zakaria, yang mengetuai panel lima hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan, selepas membacakan keputusan selama hampir 2 jam itu.
Dengan keputusan ini, Anwar gagal mengenepikan hukuman penjara lima tahun yang dikenakan ke atasnya.
Peguam Anwar, Gopal Sri Ram telah meminta masa sehingga jam 1 untuk proses mitigasi.
Keputusan itu disampaikan selepas perbicaraan selama lapan hari, menjangkaui jadual asal perbicaraan selama dua hari.
Pada 9 Jan 2012, Mahkamah Tinggi melepaskan dan membebaskan Anwar daripada pertuduhan itu atas alasan mahkamah tidak pasti secara 100 peratus tentang sampel yang diambil daripada mangsa bagi ujian DNA.
Mahkamah memutuskan bahawa sampel itu mungkin telah diganggu atau tercemar sebelum ia sampai ke Jabatan Kimia untuk analisis.
Walau bagaimanapun, pada 7 Mac tahun lepas, Mahkamah Rayuan mendapati Anwar, 67, bersalah terhadap pertuduhan meliwat Mohd Saiful, 27, di Unit 11-5-1 Kondominium Desa Damansara di Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara, di sini antara 3.10 petang dan 4.30 petang pada 26 Jun 2008.
Mahkamah juga mendapati Anwar gagal membuktikan dakwaannya bahawa wujud konspirasi politik dalam pertuduhan terhadapnya.
Dengan keputusan ini, Anwar, 67, boleh hilang kelayakan sebagai Anggota Parlimen (MP) Permatang Pauh mengikut Perkara 48(1)(e) Perlembagaan Persekutuan, yang menyatakan bahawa seorang anggota Parlimen akan hilang kelayakan jika dia dihukum penjara lebih daripada satu tahun, atau didenda lebih daripada RM2,000.
Anwar diwakili sepasukan 15 orang peguam yang diketuai Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, yang juga bekas hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan.
Empat belas peguam yang lain ialah Ramkarpal Singh Deo, Gobind Singh Deo, Sangeet Kaur Deo, N.Surendran, R. Sivarasa, J.Leela, Latheefa Koya, Lim Khim Choon, Eric Paulsen, Michelle Yesudas, Shahid Adli Kamaruddin, Zaleha Al-Hayat, Jeremy Vinesh Anthony dan Mohamed Aliff Bolkin.
Peguam kanan Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah mengetuai pasukan pendakwaan dalam rayuan itu. Beliau dibantu Timbalan Pendakwa Raya Datuk Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria.
Ini merupakan kes liwat kedua terhadap Anwar.
Dalam kes pertama, dia didapati bersalah meliwat pemandu keluarganya, Azizan Abu Bakar, di Tivoli Villa, Kuala Lumpur pada tahun 1994, dan dijatuhi hukuman penjara sembilan tahun oleh Mahkamah Tinggi pada 8 Ogos 2000.
Mahkamah mengarahkan beliau menjalani hukuman itu selepas selesai hukuman penjara enam tahun kerana rasuah, setelah didapati bersalah atas empat tuduhan rasuah pada 4 April, 1999.
Namun selepas menghabiskan hampir enam tahun di penjara kerana rasuah, beliau dibebaskan pada 2 Sept, 2004, selepas Mahkamah Persekutuan yang diketuai Hakim Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad, yang kemudian menjadi Ketua Hakim Negara, mengubah sabitan dan mengetepikan hukuman penjara ke atas beliau atas tuduhan liwat, dengan keputusan majoriti 2-1.
Abdul Hamid, yang menulis penghakiman majoriti, berkata hakim mendapati Anwar dan tertuduh bersama Sukma Darmawan Sasmitaat Madja "terlibat dalam kegiatan homoseksual" dan hakim-hakim lebih cenderung untuk mempercayai bahawa liwat yang didakwa itu memang berlaku.
Keputusan itu disampaikan pada jam 2.05 petang tadi.
Mahkamah Persekutuan mendapati Anwar bersalah atas kesalahan meliwat bekas pembantunya Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan tujuh tahun lalu.
Keputusan itu disampaikan oleh Ketua Hakim Negara, Tun Arifin Zakaria, yang mengetuai panel lima hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan, selepas membacakan keputusan selama hampir 2 jam itu.
Dengan keputusan ini, Anwar gagal mengenepikan hukuman penjara lima tahun yang dikenakan ke atasnya.
Peguam Anwar, Gopal Sri Ram telah meminta masa sehingga jam 1 untuk proses mitigasi.
Keputusan itu disampaikan selepas perbicaraan selama lapan hari, menjangkaui jadual asal perbicaraan selama dua hari.
Pada 9 Jan 2012, Mahkamah Tinggi melepaskan dan membebaskan Anwar daripada pertuduhan itu atas alasan mahkamah tidak pasti secara 100 peratus tentang sampel yang diambil daripada mangsa bagi ujian DNA.
Mahkamah memutuskan bahawa sampel itu mungkin telah diganggu atau tercemar sebelum ia sampai ke Jabatan Kimia untuk analisis.
Walau bagaimanapun, pada 7 Mac tahun lepas, Mahkamah Rayuan mendapati Anwar, 67, bersalah terhadap pertuduhan meliwat Mohd Saiful, 27, di Unit 11-5-1 Kondominium Desa Damansara di Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara, di sini antara 3.10 petang dan 4.30 petang pada 26 Jun 2008.
Mahkamah juga mendapati Anwar gagal membuktikan dakwaannya bahawa wujud konspirasi politik dalam pertuduhan terhadapnya.
Dengan keputusan ini, Anwar, 67, boleh hilang kelayakan sebagai Anggota Parlimen (MP) Permatang Pauh mengikut Perkara 48(1)(e) Perlembagaan Persekutuan, yang menyatakan bahawa seorang anggota Parlimen akan hilang kelayakan jika dia dihukum penjara lebih daripada satu tahun, atau didenda lebih daripada RM2,000.
Anwar diwakili sepasukan 15 orang peguam yang diketuai Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, yang juga bekas hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan.
Empat belas peguam yang lain ialah Ramkarpal Singh Deo, Gobind Singh Deo, Sangeet Kaur Deo, N.Surendran, R. Sivarasa, J.Leela, Latheefa Koya, Lim Khim Choon, Eric Paulsen, Michelle Yesudas, Shahid Adli Kamaruddin, Zaleha Al-Hayat, Jeremy Vinesh Anthony dan Mohamed Aliff Bolkin.
Peguam kanan Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah mengetuai pasukan pendakwaan dalam rayuan itu. Beliau dibantu Timbalan Pendakwa Raya Datuk Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria.
Ini merupakan kes liwat kedua terhadap Anwar.
Dalam kes pertama, dia didapati bersalah meliwat pemandu keluarganya, Azizan Abu Bakar, di Tivoli Villa, Kuala Lumpur pada tahun 1994, dan dijatuhi hukuman penjara sembilan tahun oleh Mahkamah Tinggi pada 8 Ogos 2000.
Mahkamah mengarahkan beliau menjalani hukuman itu selepas selesai hukuman penjara enam tahun kerana rasuah, setelah didapati bersalah atas empat tuduhan rasuah pada 4 April, 1999.
Namun selepas menghabiskan hampir enam tahun di penjara kerana rasuah, beliau dibebaskan pada 2 Sept, 2004, selepas Mahkamah Persekutuan yang diketuai Hakim Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad, yang kemudian menjadi Ketua Hakim Negara, mengubah sabitan dan mengetepikan hukuman penjara ke atas beliau atas tuduhan liwat, dengan keputusan majoriti 2-1.
Abdul Hamid, yang menulis penghakiman majoriti, berkata hakim mendapati Anwar dan tertuduh bersama Sukma Darmawan Sasmitaat Madja "terlibat dalam kegiatan homoseksual" dan hakim-hakim lebih cenderung untuk mempercayai bahawa liwat yang didakwa itu memang berlaku.
Berita Berkaitan
- Liwat II: "Teruskan perjuangan menegakkan keadilan" - Hadi Awang
- Liwat II: "Kami akan failkan usul di Parlimen" - Wan Azizah
- Liwat II: Keadilan akhirnya ditegakkan - Pendakwa Raya
- Pakatan pembangkang adakan mesyuarat khas tentukan ketua pembangkang baharu
- Liwat II: Tiada lagi rayuan, hanya pengampunan yang di-Pertuan Agong
Saya Tidak Bersalah - kata Anwar
http://www.sinarharian.com.my/semasa/saya-tidak-bersalah-kata-anwar-1.359001
PUTRAJAYA - [KEMASKINI] “Saya tidak bersalah. Kejadian liwat tidak
pernah berlaku,” demikian ungkapan Ketua Pembangkang, Datuk Seri Anwar
Ibrahim ketika diberi peluang mengemukakan rayuan pengurangan hukuman
secara lisan kepada mahkamah, semalam.
Anwar, 67, dengan nada sebak berkata, keputusan itu melengkapkan konspirasi politik bagi menjatuhkan karier politiknya.
“Yang Arif-Yang Arif (merujuk kepada panel lima hakim) tidak mengambil kira hujahan para peguam saya sejak dari hari pertama. Insiden itu (liwat) tidak pernah berlaku,” katanya.
Panel hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan yang sepatutnya mendengar rayuan peringanan hukuman daripada Ahli Parlimen Permatang Pauh itu kelihatan agak terkejut dengan kecaman pemimpin pembangkang itu.
Ketua Hakim Negara, Tun Arifin Zakaria yang mengetuai sidang itu meminta Anwar berhenti daripada mengeluarkan kata-kata menghina mahkamah.
“Kamu boleh merayu tapi jangan menghina mahkamah ini,” Arifin memberi amaran.
Anwar bagaimanapun meneruskan ucapannya dengan nada yang lebih lantang.
Anwar berkata bukan satu kebetulan apabila Pejabat Perdana Menteri mengeluarkan kenyataan berhubung keputusan itu hanya beberapa minit sejurus mahkamah mengumumkannya sedangkan hukuman masih belum diputuskan.
Anwar menyelar keputusan hakim-hakim itu yang beliau kaitkan dengan pemerintah politik serta sistem kehakiman yang berkecuali.
Beliau berkata, hakim-hakim itu boleh mengharumkan nama (dalam keputusan tersebut), tetapi memilih sebaliknya.
Sekali lagi panel hakim meminta Anwar berhenti mengutuk mahkamah.
Namun Anwar meneruskan ucapan beliau dan menyebut mengenai konspirasi politik sehingga menyebabkan semua hakim bangun dan meninggalkan tempat duduk mereka.
Insiden itu menyebabkan mahkamah terpaksa ditangguhkan kira-kira 15 minit sebelum dimulakan semula.
Walaupun ketika sidang ditangguhkan, Anwar tetap meneruskan kata-katanya dengan penuh semangat.
"Kerja keras akan diteruskan, tidak kira di mana saya berada dan apa yang dilakukan terhadap saya. Kepada semua penyokong, terima kasih diucapkan; ikhlas dari hati saya. ALLAH kekuatan saya. Saya berjanji saya tidak akan berdiam diri. Saya akan berjuang demi kebebasan dan keadilan. Saya tidak akan menyerah kalah,” katanya.
Sejurus selepas kata-kata tersebut, dewan mahkamah bergema apabila penyokong Anwar melaungkan reformasi dan takbir. Hakim-hakim kembali mengambil tempat apabila suasana mahkamah kembali tenang.
Arifin kemudian membacakan keputusan bahawa mahkamah itu menolak permohonan pihak pendakwaan untuk menambah hukuman serta menolak rayuan peguam bela untuk mengurangkan hukuman dan mengekalkan hukuman penjara lima tahun terhadap Anwar.
Anwar, 67, dengan nada sebak berkata, keputusan itu melengkapkan konspirasi politik bagi menjatuhkan karier politiknya.
“Yang Arif-Yang Arif (merujuk kepada panel lima hakim) tidak mengambil kira hujahan para peguam saya sejak dari hari pertama. Insiden itu (liwat) tidak pernah berlaku,” katanya.
Panel hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan yang sepatutnya mendengar rayuan peringanan hukuman daripada Ahli Parlimen Permatang Pauh itu kelihatan agak terkejut dengan kecaman pemimpin pembangkang itu.
Ketua Hakim Negara, Tun Arifin Zakaria yang mengetuai sidang itu meminta Anwar berhenti daripada mengeluarkan kata-kata menghina mahkamah.
“Kamu boleh merayu tapi jangan menghina mahkamah ini,” Arifin memberi amaran.
Anwar bagaimanapun meneruskan ucapannya dengan nada yang lebih lantang.
Anwar berkata bukan satu kebetulan apabila Pejabat Perdana Menteri mengeluarkan kenyataan berhubung keputusan itu hanya beberapa minit sejurus mahkamah mengumumkannya sedangkan hukuman masih belum diputuskan.
Anwar menyelar keputusan hakim-hakim itu yang beliau kaitkan dengan pemerintah politik serta sistem kehakiman yang berkecuali.
Beliau berkata, hakim-hakim itu boleh mengharumkan nama (dalam keputusan tersebut), tetapi memilih sebaliknya.
Sekali lagi panel hakim meminta Anwar berhenti mengutuk mahkamah.
Namun Anwar meneruskan ucapan beliau dan menyebut mengenai konspirasi politik sehingga menyebabkan semua hakim bangun dan meninggalkan tempat duduk mereka.
Insiden itu menyebabkan mahkamah terpaksa ditangguhkan kira-kira 15 minit sebelum dimulakan semula.
Walaupun ketika sidang ditangguhkan, Anwar tetap meneruskan kata-katanya dengan penuh semangat.
"Kerja keras akan diteruskan, tidak kira di mana saya berada dan apa yang dilakukan terhadap saya. Kepada semua penyokong, terima kasih diucapkan; ikhlas dari hati saya. ALLAH kekuatan saya. Saya berjanji saya tidak akan berdiam diri. Saya akan berjuang demi kebebasan dan keadilan. Saya tidak akan menyerah kalah,” katanya.
Sejurus selepas kata-kata tersebut, dewan mahkamah bergema apabila penyokong Anwar melaungkan reformasi dan takbir. Hakim-hakim kembali mengambil tempat apabila suasana mahkamah kembali tenang.
Arifin kemudian membacakan keputusan bahawa mahkamah itu menolak permohonan pihak pendakwaan untuk menambah hukuman serta menolak rayuan peguam bela untuk mengurangkan hukuman dan mengekalkan hukuman penjara lima tahun terhadap Anwar.
--> Winners and losers in Sodomy 2
-->
BY
THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER
Published:
10 February 2015 3:43 PM
- See more at:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/winners-and-losers-in-sodomy-2#sthash.4wrbQUvT.dpuf
-->
Opposition
leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will start a five-year inprisonment after his
appeal against conviction and sentence for sodomy was dismissed by the Federal
Court in Putrajaya today.
His second sodomy
case starting in 2008 did not attract the crowds that surged in his 1998 case
but support has grown for the sacked deputy prime minister and his Pakatan
Rakyat (PR) coalition in the intervening years.
Despite
his sodomy charge, Anwar and PR raked in more supporters among the electorate
in the 2013 polls, taking in 52% of the popular vote and again denying the
ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) of its two-thirds parliamentary super-majority.
Here is The Malaysian
Insider's view of the winners and losers from today's decision by the five-man
bench of the Federal Court.
WINNERS
1.
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
Malaysia's
longest-serving prime minister sacked Anwar in 1998, ostensibly on sodomy and
power abuse charges, although it was widely seen as a move to preempt a party
coup.
Since
then Anwar has been Dr Mahathir's (pic) number one political enemy, and was
jailed for six years in 1999. Anwar was acquitted in 2004 when Dr Mahathir's
successor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was in power.
Anwar
and his allies broke BN's hold in the 2008 and 2013 polls, threatening Dr
Mahathir's legacy and putting him in contention as a future prime minister. His
latest conviction and imprisonment has all but ensured he will not be PM.
It
also paves the way for Dr Mahathir to remain focused on his campaign to keep
Umno in power, which includes removing leaders whom he feels are unsuitable to
lead the party.
2.
Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah
The Umno lawyer was
named to lead the prosecution's appeal against Anwar's acquittal of committing
sodomy by the High Court in 2012. He successfully led the prosecution in both
appeals at the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court.
Shafee
(pic, left)) won both, although his star dimmed recently over a Home Minister's
letter vouching for the integrity of his client Paul Phua, who is facing
charges in the United States with running a World Cup football online betting
ring.
There
has been speculation that a victory against Anwar will strengthen Shafee's
chance of becoming the Attorney-General once incumbent Tan Sri Abdul Gani
Patail retires from office this year.
3.
Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang
The
PAS president has never sat easy with Anwar in a rivalry that goes back to
their days in the Islamist student group Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim)
in the late 1970s.
Politically,
they were divided too with Hadi joining PAS in 1978 and Anwar joining Umno in
1982. Anwar progressed in Umno and the government under Dr Mahathir's
mentorship until 1998 when he was sacked.
That
sacking reunited the duo against Umno but the rivalry and Anwar's ease at
handling both international and domestic politics have always put Hadi (pic,
right) a step behind.
The
Selangor leadership change called the Kajang Move saw Hadi refusing to play
ball with Anwar's PKR and the DAP resulting in several months of impasse and
frosty ties.
With
Anwar in jail, the ultra-conservative Hadi can exert a greater influence over
PR which is likely to be led by PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah in the
interim.
LOSERS
1.
Malaysia
The
country of 30 million people is further divided after two divisive elections,
and two sodomy trials involving Anwar over the past 17 years.
Although
the crowds have thinned since Anwar's 1999 sodomy conviction, more people have
voted for his opposition alliance than ever before in the past two elections.
His
latest sodomy conviction adds to the growing gloom in a country that is facing
lower revenues from falling oil and palm oil prices apart from a weaker
currency. Uncertainty over strategic investor 1MDB's financials have further
clouded the country's economy even as people brace for an unpopular consumption
tax.
The
latest Anwar sodomy verdict has also put the spotlight back on Malaysia's
judiciary and its judgments although Putrajaya took just 10 minutes today to
insist the judiciary remains independent of the executive.
2.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
He
might say he continues to fight the good fight but the popular politician turns
68 in August and any early release will only come in 40 months when he is at
least 71.
And
with a further five-year bar at the end of his jail term from contesting in any
election, Anwar can only legally run for public office when he is 76.
In
other words, the latest jail sentence has all but killed his political
prospects.
3.
Datuk Seri Najib Razak
For
the prime minister, there is no equal in Umno or BN to take him on. He might be
unpopular and performed worse than Abdullah at the polls but he remains the
only viable leader in the ruling coalition.
His
only adversary has always been Anwar, who led Najib and others as the Team
Wawasan in the 1993 Umno party polls.
But
an imprisoned Anwar now makes Najib a sitting duck for Dr Mahathir's ire and
growing disenchantment with the prime minister's social and economic policies
apart from the debt-heavy 1MDB impacting the government.
On
the international scene, today's Anwar verdict will draw further criticisms
from world leaders who have been impressed with Najib's moderate Islam
credentials. They have been worried about his volte face over sedition laws but
the Anwar decision will further erode their trust in the prime minister's
reform agenda.
Najib
will also have to take into account the verdict's impact when he next leads BN
at the polls. The sodomy charge that hung over Anwar only attracted more votes
in 2013 and his imprisonment now can only get the opposition even more votes.
4.
Umno and Barisan Nasional
The
perceived injustice over the Anwar verdict, and the lack of action and long
imprisonment for government figures said to be corrupt, will only push people
away from Umno and the other BN parties.
Umno
itself suffers from warlords who want to keep power and push away young and
capable politicians from running for office in the party or government. The
Anwar verdict will only attract them to join PR and move up faster through the
ranks.
It
is the same with other BN component parties, where infighting and old leaders'
reluctance to give way to younger members will only push away Malaysians who
are conscious of their rights and able to exert more influence through social
media.
As
it is, the DAP and PKR have recruited younger members at the expense of Umno
and its allies. The Anwar verdict will exacerbate the exodus to PR and hasten
the death of non-Malay parties in BN. – February 10, 2015.
- See more at:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/winners-and-losers-in-sodomy-2#sthash.4wrbQUvT.dpuf
**********************
.... sehari sebelum keputusan mahkamah.
Evidence points to
Anwar’s acquittal, but only if courts are free, say observers
See more at:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/evidence-points-to-anwars-acquittal-but-only-if-courts-are-free-say-observe#sthash.v3AuEmLC.dpuf
BY
ANISAH SHUKRY
Published:
9 February 2015 8:59 AM
The Federal Court
will announce its verdict over Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Sodomy II case
tomorrow and if he is jailed, it will be the end of the opposition leader’s
political career. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, February 9,
2015. Tomorrow, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will learn whether he will be jailed,
stripped of all political positions, or be cleared of a sodomy charge and
remain a free man and leader of the opposition.
The Federal Court is
set to announce its verdict over the Sodomy II case that began in 2008, when
Anwar pleaded not guilty to sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, in court. It was the
second time he faced a sodomy charge, the first in 1998 after his sacking from
government.
Anwar had tasted victory in 2012 when the High
Court acquitted him, but the Court of Appeal overturned the decision last year,
just days before he was to contest in the Kajang by-election.
The Federal Court
will decide whether to uphold the Court of Appeal’s verdict, or stand by the
High Court’s decision.
The
Malaysian Insider asked several observers how they expected the verdict to play
out tomorrow. They said that while the opposition leader should be acquitted of
charges, “politics” might come into play and see the man –
once Malaysia’s prime minister hopeful – imprisoned for a second time.
TMI:
Based on what you know of the case, what do you expect the results of the
sodomy case will be, and why?
Phil Robertson (pic),
deputy director, Human Rights Watch Asia division:
Sadly, I think he’s going to be convicted. I think a lot of people in the
international community, other governments think that way as well. There is a
great deal of despair about that.
Once
again, it is an example of Malaysia shooting itself in the foot. It has lots of
issues to deal with, but for some reason the government is obsessed about
knocking out the opposition rather than unite the people and bring the people
forward.
The
reason I think he will be convicted is because the government has worked very
hard to pursue this case through the system. We hope that the court will be
independent and impartial, and make their decision based on evidence.
What
the government has done is tarnish Anwar’s reputation for seven years through
this charge, which is very explosive among Malay voters – they have cast him in
the worst possible manner, (accused him of acts) contrary to the beliefs of
many Malays on sexual orientation and gender, deliberate smearing him with a
charge that shouldn’t be a crime, dragging it out, distracting him from his
duties as the opposition leader, and trying to put him back in prison.
The
whole process, episode has been outrageous and shameful.
The
fact that the government continues to go forward with this shows how it
completely lacks the vision of how Malaysia perceived in the world. This is an
extremely black mark in Malaysia. I think the government will be stunned by the
depth of international anger if Anwar is convicted.
Lim
Chee Wee, former Bar Council president: Anwar should
be acquitted, simply because the evidence is weak. In any event, circumstances
suggest conspiratorial and selective persecution.
Dr
Bridget Welsh, senior researcher, Centre for Asia Democratic Studies, National
Taiwan University: I think it’s not appropriate to
speculate on the judiciary, let the judges make their decision and follow the
letter of the law.
If
that’s the case, from the legal perspective, from the burden of proof, the
decision should be that he is acquitted. If it’s something else, then it’s a
political decision.
One
has to look at the case in totality. There are clearly issues here that raised
questions in the application of the law. Ultimately, we should let the
judiciary do their job.
The
question of the handling of the evidence, the question associated with the
application of the law in terms of prosecution of him as opposed to anyone else
(was raised). It looks like selective persecution.
Datuk Seri Ambiga
Sreenevasan (pic), Negara-Ku patron: I cannot
predict what the outcome will be on Tuesday. However, based on the arguments as
reported and as I heard presented in court, I would anticipate an acquittal.
Quite
apart from the legal issues before the court, I believe that Malaysians are
truly sick of the sodomy cases against DSAI (Anwar). I think it’s time for the
paranoia to stop. He is not superman! Can’t they just take on his arguments in
Parliament? This case in my view (is) a serious reflection of the insecurity of
those in power.
Dr
Ooi Kee Beng, deputy director, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies:
If there were fairness in the judiciary, if we had a judiciary that was beyond
reproach, I think he would acquitted… There is more than reasonable
doubt.
So
if I look at the whole case at this point, if look at this case as purely
judicial, it looks to me that the prosecution has not done its job.
But
this is if I assume that the judiciary is beyond reproach.
But
I would say the outcome is 50-50. Because you have to consider the real
possibility of the politics involved.
In
this matter, you just have to suspect that something fishy is going on. I don’t
think any analyst can say they do not suspect any political manipulation in
this very long trial. Apart from Anwar’s case, how many other Malaysians were
charged and convicted of sodomy? And I doubt not a single Malaysian commits
sodomy.
John
Malott, former United States ambassador to Malaysia:
It is hard to predict the outcome, because this case has been politically
motivated from the very beginning, going back to Saiful's meeting with Najib
(Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak) before the charges were ever
filed.
That
is not just my opinion, because governments and human rights organisations
around the world have said the same thing. This is a political
trial. Think about the fact that only seven cases of this kind have ever
gone to court in Malaysia's history, and two of them involved Anwar.
And
of course, both cases were brought at politically opportune moments for the
government.
If
the judgment is made purely on the facts, then Anwar should be acquitted. Mark
Trowell, an Australian lawyer who observed the original High Court trial on
behalf of the Inter Parliamentary Union, wrote a 300-page book detailing all
the evidence and testimony.
I
believe that the High Court made the correct decision. Meanwhile, the Court of
Appeal acted more like a kangaroo court, holding hearings and rendering its
judgment almost instantaneously, all within the course of two days.
I
was impressed that the Federal Court held hearings over the course of many days
and that the questions it asked were not biased. Anwar's new attorney, (Datuk
Seri) Gopal Sri Ram, had the government prosecutor on the defensive throughout.
For
sure, I hope that Anwar will be found not guilty, and I am moderately hopeful
that he will be. But this is Malaysia, and who knows? We have been surprised so
many times before. – February 9, 2015.
- See more at:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/evidence-points-to-anwars-acquittal-but-only-if-courts-are-free-say-observe#sthash.v3AuEmLC.dpuf
REAKSI PEBAGAI PIHAK;
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/it-is-a-price-we-have-to-pay-for-a-better-malaysia-says-dr-wan-azizah
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/us-uk-concerned-with-anwars-sodomy-verdict
http://www.wsj.com/articles/malaysian-cartoonist-draws-attention-of-police-with-anwar-ibrahim-book-1423429381
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/hadi-says-only-shariah-can-give-anwar-true-justice
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/australian-lawmaker-calls-anwars-verdict-a-travesty-of-justice
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/it-is-a-price-we-have-to-pay-for-a-better-malaysia-says-dr-wan-azizah
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/us-uk-concerned-with-anwars-sodomy-verdict
http://www.wsj.com/articles/malaysian-cartoonist-draws-attention-of-police-with-anwar-ibrahim-book-1423429381
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/hadi-says-only-shariah-can-give-anwar-true-justice
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/australian-lawmaker-calls-anwars-verdict-a-travesty-of-justice
Evidence
points to Anwar’s acquittal, but only if courts are free, say observers
- See more at:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/evidence-points-to-anwars-acquittal-but-only-if-courts-are-free-say-observe#sthash.v3AuEmLC.dpuf
Evidence
points to Anwar’s acquittal, but only if courts are free, say observers
- See more at:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/evidence-points-to-anwars-acquittal-but-only-if-courts-are-free-say-observe#sthash.v3AuEmLC.dpuf
