Edmund Burke Fan is right in his response to The Star interview , in which Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said "...a lot of people were saying that I was deliberately getting rid of him (former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim)...".

This is absolutely true because when Anwar was highly regarded as being in the next generation of Asian leaders with moral integrity and intellectual rigor. His prescience, pragmatism and renaissance greatly impressed the world's financial and political figures, as opposed to Mahathir's style of grandstanding, belligerence and diverting blame.

While in government, Anwar had called for greater transparency, accountability and democracy for a new Malaysia; he undertook bold steps to fight the illegal, corrupt and fraudulent practices that have been rampant under Mahathir's regime. This was challenging Mahathir's credibility, integrity, supremacy and leadership.

So the maestro and his cronies orchestrated the most sinister conspiracy in a web of intrigue conceived at the highest level of government with the collusion of the police, the secret service and the judiciary to persecute Anwar to make sure he remains incarcerated as long as it is safe for Mahathir.

What sanctimonious hypocrisy for Mahathir to say "...loyalty to the government, the party, the principles is important. Not loyalty to me...". This was what Anwar stood for a loyalty based on principles.

Anwar defied Mahathir because justice and public interest were threatened. He strongly objected to the use of huge amount of public funds to rescue the failed businesses of his cronies.

This was where respect for justice, principles and public interest overcame loyalty to the leader. And it was precisely because Anwar confronted his leader and upheld public interest that he was dismissed and prosecuted.

Mahathir said "...he (Anwar) was unable to manage the financial crisis...". What tendentious ideological claptrap.

So what would one say about the following awards given to Anwar:

  • AsiaMoney nominated Anwar as finance minister of the year in 1996.

  • Time magazine in 1997 hailed Anwar as one of the new breed of Asian leaders.

  • Newsweek named Anwar Asian of the Year in 1998.

    • These were not commendations given by servile followers of Dr Mahathir!

    Mahathir said Anwar broke the law. The law was broken because the courts acquiesced with Mahathir's insolence. The Star ought to ask questions about the:

    • independence of the judiciary;

  • fairness of the trials and impartiality of the judge;

  • dissatisfaction over the unusual manner in which the trials were conducted;

  • refusal of bail;

  • prosecution's amendment of dates of the alleged offences;

  • expunging of sworn evidence;

  • selective admission of key witnesses; and

  • threatening defence lawyers with jail.

    • As Edmund Burke once said, "The judicature must be something exterior to the state, giving justice a security against power".