VOXPOP 'Praise for the judge is misplaced - his verdict was as much a politically directed decision as was his decision to call for Anwar's defence.'

Anwar's acquittal marks a new chapter

Sarawakian_3ff9: Don't be too quick to praise Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah, the presiding judge of the Sodomy II case.

From the beginning of the case, all indications were that he would go for an eventual guilty verdict. He even said that complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan was a truthful witness.

There were so many holes in the case which under a fair and independent court would in all probability be dismissed at the onset of the case.

The verdict was purely a political decision - to save Prime Minister Najib Razak's hide. Just look at the spin they are coming out with.

Loyal Malaysian: I beg to differ with the author, Lim Teck Ghee. I think he is much too optimistic as to the possible outcomes of Anwar's acquittal.

Also I believe praise for the judge is misplaced - his verdict was as much a politically directed decision as was his decision to call for Anwar's defence in the first place.

Swkdayaks: Former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad will not forget and forgive. Officially, he has retired. But in reality, and politically speaking, he has not and will not as long as Anwar Ibrahim is still out there and still a potential PM of Malaysia.

After all, it is only Anwar who still challenges him unlike Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, former deputy PM Musa Hitam and the Kitingan brothers in Sabah who have all given up fighting Mahathir.

DAP and PAS, though irritating to Mahathir, do not have the potential to defeat him. So it's only Anwar who poses the threat. Former PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib and any of the other Malay leaders do not have any leadership calibre that can match Anwar's.

What we have been witnessing - Sodomy I and II - are fights between Mahathir and Anwar.

Abdullah was a bit forgiving when it comes to Anwar, so Mahathir blasted and unseated his successor. From that experience, Najib dared not ignore the issue but had to go along with Mahathir to fight Anwar.

Mahathir still has a network of people in strategic positions within the government system such as the police, MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) and the judiciary at his disposal. Anwar knows this.

Slim chance of Hasan returning even if he appeals

Onyourtoes: If PAS party discipline procedures allow for appeal, then Hasan Ali should be given the opportunity.

But the outcome of the appeal will decide whether or not PAS leadership have the tenacity and boldness to make the right decision, not just for short-term expediency but for the long-term good of this country.

Was Hasan just being recalcitrant and flouting party discipline? Has the party leadership explored and observed why Hasan behaved the way he did?

Was it purely based on principles and Islam as he claimed? Is there more to his behaviour? For example, did he sell out; knowing his support and influence in the party has waned?

By the way, why was former deputy president Nasaruddin Mat Isa there with him? May be it will be good to check it out a little more.

Rosli75: PAS made the right decision to sack Hasan Ali. He is a pain in the neck. PAS will now win over more non-Muslim voters come GE13 for sure. Forget about Hasan Ali, let's concentrate on preparations for GE13.

Ben Hor: Like the other frogs that have jumped, Hasan Ali's political career will end when the next election comes. They might be picked up by BN in the next GE but the rakyat will not support flip-floppers like him.

James1067: A party struggle is always a united one, not a personal battle. He must have agreed to the rules and regulations of the party when he joined.

Recently he has been on a personal crusade to fight for his personal beliefs, and by doing so has done some damage to PAS.

The question is why he doing things to destroy the party that he committed himself to. By doing so, he shows that he is working for the enemies of PAS.

Unlike PAS, Umno more considerate, says Muhyiddin

Cannon: The patron of the DPM sacked his deputy, Anwar, outright without the benefit of any disciplinary process. Has Muhyiddin Yassin forgotten so fast? Is he suffering from selective amnesia like his mentor?

2CTS WORTH: I think Umno is too considerate. Lawyer VK Lingam is free, MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) is free, Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil is free, Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen is free, MCA president Chua Soi Lek is free, Perkasa is free, Utusan Malaysia is free. You and the PM are free.

Can't blame Umno for being considerate. Else you will have no party. Now why not invite Hasan in? He will fit in nicely.

Gerard Samuel Vijayan: Where was Umno's considerate nature and compassion in 1998 when the Supreme Council summarily expelled Anwar Ibrahim from the party at the behest of the Umno demi-god Mahathir Mohamad?

Why wasn't Anwar given a chance to defend himself before the disciplinary committee then?

Instead at that time all the Supreme Council members and Umno MBs, Muhyiddin included, sang the same song namely that the boss is always right.

If Umno wants Hasan Ali so badly, by all means please take him. It is no loss to PAS and the people of Selangor will be glad for it.

VoteforChange: PAS is a bucket of good apples and Hasan Ali is the bad apple - the only right thing to do is to get rid of this bad apple.

Whereas Umno is a bucket of rotten apples - the only thing to do is to throw away the whole bucket.

 

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