Contrary to popular thinking, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng says Anwar Ibrahim’s acquittal on the sodomy charge today will not lead to a snap general election.

NONE “By early, I mean they are thinking of March. However, I do not think that it will be held in March but in June or September,” he said today.

            

Asked if the ruling would boost support for premier Najib Abdul Razak, the Penang chief minister said he does not think so - rather, it puts Pakatan Rakyat closer to Putrajaya.

                                                

"What is important is not only justice for Anwar but justice for all Malaysians. This is a great day for Malaysia, for freedom and justice," Lim said.

"This is not only a victory of the people but a vindication of the rights of the people, and the hope that we can achieve the reforms and the change for a fairer, better and freer future for all Malaysians.”

Lim also said the BN-led federal government had malicious intent in prosecuting Anwar, in order to pull him down.

"It is now time that we bring (about) change where a government that is concerned about the people is put in place (so) that (individuals) are not wrongfully prosecuted.

"Awar has been victimised twice. I hope there is not a third. I hope the attorney-general will learn his lesson and not become a tool of the BN government."

NONE Lim’s father and DAP stalwart Kit Siang (right) , who is also Ipoh Timor MP, described Anwar’s acquittal as a great victory and a sign that the country was prepared for change.

                                    

“This is a great victory for Pakatan Rakyat and the people of Malaysia. The message is that Malaysians will be prepared for change in the general election.”

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu congratulated Anwar on his acquittal and said he hoped the acquittal would put Pakatan Rakyat closer to Putrajaya.

‘Charge was trumped up’

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali said the acquittal showed that the charge was trumped up by the prosecution and the government from the start.

                

azmin ali and pkr keadilan 210307 "This is a good beginning for us in facing the coming election. This is victory not only for Anwar but for the people who, for the past 10 years, have been supporting the need for change.

"For the next general election, Pakatan Rakyat will bring major and significant changes that will further improve the welfare of the people.”

Azmin said that the judge in the sodomy case could have spoken from his conscience and in the name of justice.

“I hope there will be more judges who will base their decisions on justice and not be swayed by pressure from the executives of Umno and BN,” he said.

Angkatan Amanah Merdeka deputy president Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, who was in court to hear the verdict, said he was happy and that “this is a great day”.

“The decision today makes people comfortable. I am happy with the verdict and I am happy for Anwar as I think he has great leadership,” said Kadir, a former tourism minister.

“People have said many things about the Judiciary and I think this (case) is a great chance for it to redeem itself.”