In the run up to the rally in support of jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim this Saturday, Angkatan WargaAman Malaysia (WargaAman) has urged the government to abolish Section 377 of the Penal Code as it violates principles of human rights.

 

“The government should not act as a moral police, violating the privacy of an individual’s life and human rights.

 

“Many democratic countries have already abolished the said article in their criminal law,” WargaAman secretary-general S Barathidasan said in a statement today.

 

The government has used Section 377 (B) that criminalises “carnal intercourse against the order of nature” to incarcerate Anwar in the long-running Sodomy II case.

Anwar is now serving a five-year jail sentence in Sungai Buloh Prison.

 

Expressing support for and calling on all Malaysians to attend the Kita Lawan rally in Kuala Lumpur, Barathidasan said there were many “points of concern” in the sodomy case against Anwar.

 

“The Bar Council and many lawyers have questioned the Federal Court’s decision.

 

“The jailing of Anwar has also garnered serious criticism from the international community and civil society,” he said, adding the ruling has “tarnished the image of the judiciary as independent and credible”.

 

“It has given the perception that the judiciary is controlled by the government; it does not enjoy the confidence of the people,” Barathidasan added.

 

‘Police, ensure peaceful rally’

 

Among those who condemned the guilty verdict were the Australian Foreign Ministry and the United States Embassy, as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

 

In particular, the US Embassy said, “The decision to prosecute Anwar, and his trial, have raised serious concerns regarding the rule of law and the independence of the courts.”

 

Meanwhile, Barathidasan ( right ) urged the police to ensure peace at the coming rally by not “taking harsh action against citizens exercising their rights to democracy and free speech”.

 

“Untoward incidents occur when the police unleash tear gas and chemical-laced water that causes  crowds to disperse.

 

“If this does not happen, then we believe all will be happy, the people will be happy and the traders in the vicinity of the city will also be happy… and all will go smoothly.

 

“We will also disperse in an orderly manner,” Barathidasan added.