The United States government stands firm on its conviction that jailed former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim did not get fair court trials but believes this could be corrected in the appeals process, US ambassador Marie T Huhtala said in a recent interview with malaysiakini .

"We do not think that he had fair trials the two times he went to court. That could be corrected in the appeals process," she said. "We feel the trials were manifestly unfair."

The Federal Court last Friday postponed for the third time Anwar's appeal against corruption charges. The appeal was supposed to have been heard this week. Anwar has begun a 'stringent fast' to protest the postponement.

Anwar's lawyers have also filed an appeal against Anwar's High Court sodomy conviction at the Court of Appeals last December.

On judicial reform in Malaysia, Huhtala said there were encouraging signs toward greater judicial independence, adding she had a 'favourable impression' of Chief Justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah.

"He seems to be working in that direction (judicial reform). I hope to have a meeting with him soon to discuss this in some detail," she said.

On the appointment of Abdul Gani Patail as the new attorney-general, Huhtala said, "We will be looking at what he does in office but I certainly have no reason at the moment to think that he is not going to continue the move towards judicial independence."

Abdul Gani was alleged to have coerce a potential witness to fabricate evidence when he headed the prosecution during Anwar's sodomy and corruption trials in 1999. Anwar is currently serving a 15-year jail term.

Patriot Act unlike ISA

Huhtala also said the United States remains committed to promoting human rights and political liberties in Malaysia even in wake of the Sept 11 terrorist attacks.

"We have not changed one ounce our commitment to promoting human rights and democracy," she said. Local civil groups and opposition have expressed concern that US may ease its pressure on Malaysia over human rights following Sept 11.

The ambassador also said many people were confused between the newly-drafted Patriot Act in the US and Malaysia's Internal Security Act.

"It is not at all the same as your ISA. We don't use the Patriot Act against Americans. We don't use it for political reasons to crack down on political opposition.

"For those caught under the Patriot Act, they have access to legal procedures, the appeals process and the rule of law in the US," she said.

On Oct 26 last year, President George Bush signed the Patriot Act into law, giving domestic law enforcement bodies and intelligence agencies sweeping surveillance and detention powers at the expense of judicial review.

The Patriot Act prompted several Malaysian leaders to say that the West, and the US in particular, was learning from Malaysia with respect to the ISA and national security.

Arrest first, question later

Huhtala, however, said the US government was satisfied with the recent ISA arrests of 15 men alleged to be Malaysian Mujahidin Group (KMM) members.

"We definitely wanted your government to arrest them and we were delighted that they did so.

"The first step is to arrest the terrorists and then conduct a thorough investigation. That is what I understand they are doing now," said Huhtala who graduated in strategic studies from the National War College.

She said it was up to the government to decide on whether there is any link between opposition parties and the arrested militant group members.

"If it turns out that there are links to political parties, that's another whole set of problems," she said.

Last year, police rounded up 20 people said to be linked to KMM, one of whom was the son of Kelantan Menteri Besar and PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat. Police later claimed they were responsible for the bombing of a church and a temple, bank robberies and the assassination of a politician.

Offensive booklet

When asked for the American view on the Islamic agenda pursued by Umno, Huhtala said she did not see a trend of "terrible Islamisation of a nature that would be threatening to the US".

"Up until now, Malaysia has been known as a moderate Islamic country. That is something that we like very much and we would like to see continue," she said.

Last September, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad declared that Malaysia was already an Islamic state, a concept advocated by Umno's main rival, PAS.

A booklet explaining entitled Malaysia is an Islamic State was also published by the Information Ministry but withdrawn when it met with strong protests. The booklet's contents were said to have made derogatory references to non-Muslims.