The world is watching if Malaysia's highest court will uphold international standards of fair trials when opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's appeal against his sodomy charge begins tomorrow.

 

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member organisation Suaram said the apex court "must keep politics out of the courtroom and put an end to more than 15 years of judicial persecution" of Anwar.

 

"The Federal Court’s judgment is a decisive test for Malaysia’s judiciary.

 

"Politics must be kept out of the courtroom if Malaysia wants to help restore the battered reputation of its justice system," FIDH president Karim Lahidji said in a joint statement today with Suaram executive director Yap Swee Seng.

 

"It’s imperative that Malaysia respects international standards for fair trials, including the right to be heard by a competent, independent, and impartial tribunal."

 

Karim and Yap listed a number of serious issues surrounding Anwar's long-drawn Sodomy II case, for which he was acquitted a year before the 13th general election in May 2013, but was speedily found guilty a year later on appeal.

 

“Developments leading up to the Federal Court’s hearing do not bode well for the fairness of the proceedings.

 

"It’s time for Malaysia’s judiciary to end the political abuse of justice and the flawed prosecution of Anwar Ibrahim,” added Yap.

Malaysia’s opposition leader was found guilty by the Court of Appeal on March 7 of sodomy and sentenced to five years’ jail after the appellate court overturned the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision two years ago.

His final appeal and the prosecution’s cross-appeal to enhance the five years’ jail term will be heard tomorrow.

FIDH and Suaram noted that the judiciary’s political involvement in the Court of Appeal’s decision seven months ago, could be seen when the hearing was brought forward from its initial dates fixed in April.

This they said was to thwart Anwar’s Kajang by-election bid that would have allowed him to be the Selangor menteri besar.

Meanwhile, a coalition of 15 NGOs urged the judiciary to "right the wrong" in the Court of Appeal's sentence against Anwar.

 

"The verdict is not just about Anwar's political ambition but the manner in which the entire trial was conducted. It broke every known fair trial standard governed by law and it exemplifies the frailty of our criminal justice system.

 

"The judiciary as the last bastion in checking the abuses of power by the executive, must rise to the occasion in ending injustices in the case of Anwar Ibrahim and put a stop to the abuses of state machinery for political persecution," it said.

 

The joint statement was endorsed by among others, Lawyers for Liberty, Writers Alliance for Media Independence, Women's Aid Organisation, Centre for Orang Asli Concerns and Suaram.  

Azmin: Stop the persecution

Selangor Menteri Besar and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali described the Court of Appeal’s decision in overturning the acquittal of Anwar over what he claims are fabricated charges of sodomy, as a travesty of justice.

“We have consistently maintained that the persecution is part and parcel of a despicable conspiracy, originating in the first sodomy charges in 1998, to assassinate Anwar’s character and destroy his political career.

The relentless persecution on Anwar, Azmin said, has been on-going and is symptomatic of a judicial and criminal process that is deeply flawed.

“The bad faith by the authorities can be seen in the harassment on Anwar’s legal team, with Surendran being charged with sedition. This interference with the legal defence team is an outright denial of a fair hearing for Anwar.

“In this regard, I strongly urge the powers-that-be to let the rule of law and justice prevail. Stop the persecution of Anwar and put an end to this perverse injustice once and for all,” he said in the statement.

Meanwhile the International Union of Muslim Scholars chairperson Yusuf al-Qaradawi said Anwar as a notable leader should be treated with respect instead of being accused of baseless allegations.

 

"The (High) Court had previously cleared him of the accusation but clearly there are quarters that are scheming without considering the well being of the nation and the future of its people," he said in a statement yesterday.