'Minister, can you clarify which laws the Aussies should respect? The ones meant for the royalty? Or the one specifically for Umno? Or the laws for the common people?'

Respect Malaysian laws, minister tells Australian MPs

Singa Pura Pura: Minister, your premise is wholly misconceived. The Australian MPs do respect the laws of Malaysia. What they do not respect and cannot condone, as is the case with most Malaysians, is the selective prosecution of Malaysia's opposition leader.

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of acts of sodomy, both consensual and otherwise, take place in Malaysia each single day. Why does the government of Malaysia, through the Attorney-General's Chambers and its public prosecutors, single out the opposition leader of Malaysia for prosecution under that section in the face of prima facie evidence to the contrary?

Why are high profile cases on murder, pecuniary corruption and abuse of power and process, where there is evidence to commence proceedings, selectively disregarded? Minister, how can we expect the Australians to respect us when we do not even show that we respect our own constitution, laws and due process?

Minister, a bare demand for respect is a contradiction in terms.

Avatar: Minister (Mohd Shafie Apdal), can you clarify which laws the Aussies should respect? The ones meant for the royalty? Or the one specifically for Umno? Or the laws for the common people?

Yobama: Respect should be earned, not demanded. The world will respect us if we do not abuse the law to our own political advantage.

Didn't you see what happened during Sodomy 1? Anwar was convicted on charges that later turned out to be trumped-up The conviction was overturned upon appeal.

The world is not so stupid as to accept everything that the BN-led government claims. The Australians have every right to register their concern in what is clearly a political move by the BN to get rid of Anwar and kill him off politically.

Jiaheng Chan: I guess the public in general has higher expectation from the leaders of their nation in terms of morality. It's true that most people get away with sodomy and we don't really care if they did or not.

But if an opposition leader who is seen to be a practicing Muslim and champion of justice, equality and morality has committed sodomy, it shows that he is unfaithful to his wife.

Isn't that a big thing for a high-profile public figure?

Let's look at all (not one or two pieces) the evidence presented before the court and read the final judgment before we come to any conclusions. The most important thing the public would want to know - based on evidence - is whether he did or didn't commit the act.

Freemsia: Minister, the Australian members of parliament are not against the laws of Malaysia. They are just against the fact that the charges against Anwar Ibrahim is politically motivated. They see it as an attempt to bring down an opposition leader who is gaining support.

Cala: The said MPs are of the opinion that the case, as it is being presented in court, is politically motivated. They come to that conclusion based on how Sodomy I was handled earlier.

As for Mohd Shafie, he made a general remark, reminding foreigners not to meddle in Malaysia's business. In other words, Mohd Shafie cannot provide a rebuttal to the Australians' allegation that Sodomy II is politically motivated.

Cityboy: The constitution is no longer worth the paper it's written on. It has been amended so many times to Umno's needs. Freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, etc.

Charles Chia Kwang Dong: Mohd Shafie Apdal, we hear you loud and clear. Respect the laws of our country, and all will be well and safe in Malaysia. So will Zimbabwe. Work harder, and you will be the first PM from Sabah.

Malayamuda: The Malaysian government should first respect its own laws and constitution before asking others to respect it. After the Perak debacle, its quite obvious that our constitution has been taken as toilet paper by Umno.

Wira: Shafie, I think Australians do respect our laws. They just don't respect those who corrupt our laws, dignity and sense of human decency.

Geronimo: Shouldn't the heading read: 'Respect Umno laws, minister tells Australian MPs"?

Gibran: It is not about the laws in Malaysia. Anwar's case is just a sham, as the medical report clearly indicates that there was no penetration. How, then, can sodomy have taken place? BN underestimates the public's intelligence.

13th GE: You spit on the constitution and want others to respect it?