http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203363504577184631682335306.html?K\
EYWORDS=anwar

Malaysia's Anwar Presses On Despite Appeal
By SHIBANI MAHTANI JAN 26, 2012, 11:17 A.M. ET

KUALA LUMPUR-Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he isn't worried
about state prosecutors' move to appeal a court decision acquitting him of
sodomy earlier this month, and said he remains confident it won't derail his
campaign to lead a new government to power in elections expected later this
year.

"The judgment [in the sodomy case] was very strong" and "difficult to
appeal," Mr. Anwar said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal at his
political party's headquarters here Thursday. He said the appeal process,
which began Jan. 20, would likely take at least six months, meaning it could
loom over and outlast the election campaign.

Prime Minister Najib Razak has to call an election by March 2013, but under
Malaysia's parliamentary system of government, many analysts predict it will
be called much sooner, triggering one of the most fiercely fought electoral
contests this resource-rich nation has ever seen. Mr. Anwar said he believes
the election is unlikely to take place later than June.

Since the Jan. 9 verdict by a High Court judge-who acquitted Mr. Anwar of
violating Malaysia's strict sodomy laws citing a lack of witnesses and
flawed DNA evidence-the 64-year-old opposition leader has begun mobilizing
support in this multiracial country, promising reforms to dismantle a
decades-old affirmative-action program designed to give a leg up to the
majority ethnic-Malay population while also targeting what he describes as
widespread cronyism in Mr. Najib's government. If elected, Mr. Anwar said he
will accelerate privatizations and do more to enable free markets to operate
more efficiently, such as improving transparency in the bidding for
government contracts.

Mr. Najib, 58 years old, is also keen to brand himself a reformer in part to
win back ethnic-Chinese and Indian voters who in recent years largely have
thrown their support behind Mr. Anwar's opposition alliance. Mr. Najib has
also embarked on a series of sales of government assets to spur growth.
Earlier this month, a government state investment fund sold its stake in car
marker Proton Holdings Bhd. to conglomerate DRB-Hicom Bhd., and last year
government-linked funds swapped shares in state-run Malaysian Airline System
Bhd. with budget airline AirAsia Bhd.

"The overall principle is that we want the government-linked companies to
sell off their noncore and noncompetitive assets," Mr. Najib said in an
interview two weeks ago. "We are always looking out for how to add value to
the country."

Mr. Anwar, though, criticized the way Mr. Najib's government pursued these
privatizations, saying that without open, public tenders, key companies
remain controlled by a well-connected few.

Privatization "looks good, but look again at the procedures," said Mr.
Anwar. "The issue is not about privatization, it is blatant corruption."

Following the Proton deal, state investment fund Khazanah Nasional said in a
statement that it chose the best suitor for the job and the country.

A Malaysian government spokesperson said Thursday the government is "fully
committed to openness and transparency in all privatizations and divestments
of state-owned assets and to tackling corruption wherever and whenever it is
found." The spokesperson noted that Malaysia has introduced a new online
database of government contracts so that anybody can alert authorities to
any potentially improper actions.

"We are determined to ensure that all government contracts are awarded
through a process that is fair and open to scrutiny," the spokesperson said.

After being embroiled in the sodomy trial-which he claims was politically
motivated-Mr. Anwar is now shifting gears from defending his reputation to
fighting to win an election.

Once a high-ranking member of the United Malays National Organization that
has run Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957, he was sacked from
the party and lost his post as deputy prime minister after challenging
former leader Mahathir Mohamad in the 1990s. He was subsequently charged for
sodomizing his driver and his speechwriter, and spent six years in prison
before his conviction was overturned.

After leading the opposition to one of its strongest-ever showings in 2008's
national elections, Mr. Anwar was accused by former aide Saiful Bukhari
Azlan of sodomizing him, setting in train another marathon,
headline-stealing trial which Mr. Anwar again said was designed to end his
political career. Mr. Najib and his government have repeatedly denied having
anything to do with the case.

Now, after Judge Zabidin Diah acquitted Mr. Anwar, ruling that the forensic
evidence presented against the opposition leader was flawed, Mr. Anwar
argues that he isn't just "anti-UMNO" but has his own set of policies geared
toward restoring Malaysia's competitiveness in a global economy where
countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia are emerging as alternative magnets
for investment.

"We must always compare Malaysia to Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan," said
Mr. Anwar. "That's what we were."

If elected, Mr. Anwar said he would speed up the removal of racial quotas
for university places and focus on helping lower-income groups regardless of
race instead of solely aiding ethnic Malays.

In the interview, Mr. Anwar also clarified his position on homosexual rights
and Malaysia's sodomy laws, and also the Muslim-majority nation's
relationship with Israel.

"I support all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel," said
Mr. Anwar, although he stopped short of saying he would open diplomatic ties
with the Jewish state, a step which he said remains contingent on Israel
respecting the aspirations of Palestinians. Malaysia has consistently
refrained from establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, although
limited commercial ties exist between private companies in the two
countries.

In response to recent local reports that he supported gay marriage, Mr.
Anwar said they were wrong and that he "believes in and supports the
sanctity of marriage between men and women." The opposition leader is suing
government-linked newspaper Utusan Malaysia for defamation, alleging that it
implied he supports and wants to legalize homosexuality.

Still, Mr. Anwar said that Malaysia's sodomy laws are "archaic" and could be
amended.

"It is not my business to attack people or arrest people based on their
sexual orientation," he said.
____

Anwar eyes polls, says not worried about sodomy appeal
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/litee/malaysia/article/anwar-eyes-polls-says-\
not-worried-about-sodomy-appeal/
____

http://anilnetto.com/malaysian-politics/anwar-pulls-in-the-crowds/

Anwar pulls in the crowds
Jan 27, 2012 Posted by Anil Netto at 1.28am

Anwar continues to draw the crowds as he criss-crosses the country. This was
the scene at Sabak Bernam last night.

Photograph: Mediarakyat
http://anilnetto.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/huge-crowd-turns-up-to-meet-anwa\
r-at-sabak-bernam.jpg
____

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http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/187595

Datuk T returns with new Thailand sex expose
11:54AM Jan 27, 2012

The 'Datuk T' trio, who had screened a sex video claiming to be that of PKR
de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, today challenged the opposition leader to
prove them wrong or face another "more shocking" video expose.

In a front page report on Malay language daily Utusan Malaysia, one of the
trio, former Perkasa treasurer Shuib Lazim (right), said the new sex video
was recorded on Jan 12 and 13 last year in Thailand.

http://media1-cdn.malaysiakini.com/374/d21e1605ed828fd9f42df3fe56ade469.jpg

"I have seen the video passed to me by Eskay.

"I believe Eskay is ready to make an expose of the video in court if Anwar
sues us," he said, referring to another Datuk T member Shazryl Ekay
Abdullah.

"Look at (Anwar's) passport to check where he was. Or ask his wife Dr Wan
Azizah Wan Ismail," he said.

Shuib added that Anwar should sue the trio, including former Malacca chief
minister Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, if any international forensic analyst can
prove that Anwar was not in the first sex video exposed last March.

The video, first screened to journalists, showed a man resembling Anwar
fornicating with a woman.

Anwar lodged a police report denying that the man in the video was him,
while the Datuk T trio were fined for screening pornography in public.

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/167883

Police are investigating Anwar under Section 182 of the Penal Code for
giving "false information to injure another person" based on his police
report denying he was the man in the video.

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/181547

'No point debating with Anwar'

Meanwhile, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that Prime
Minister Najib Abdul Razak need not entertain Anwar's challenge for a debate
on the country's policies.

http://media1-cdn.malaysiakini.com/343/1b49af0ca28d532a487094164546e3b1.gif

Mahathir was reported by Malay language dailiesSinar Harian andBerita Harian
as saying that Anwar only wants to have a debate to "show that he is
bengis(fierce)".

"What's the point of debating when everyone knows his stand, and the debate
won't change this.

"It's a different case if Anwar shares the government's opinion on matters
raised," he said.
____

Anwar dicabar serah video
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2012&dt=0127&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=\
Muka_Hadapan&pg=mh_01.htm

Utusan malaysia frontpage 27 Jan 2012
http://www.utusan.com.my/others/muka_hadapan.jpg
____

http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=27032:dat\
uk-t-sex-sequel-draws-a-yawn-will-najib-still-reward-the-trio-with-seats-to-cont\
est?&Itemid=2

Datuk T sex sequel draws a yawn: Will Najib still reward the trio with seats
to contest?

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle Friday, 27 Jan 2012

Despite being front-paged by Umno newspaper Utusan, the much-threatened
Datuk T sex video sequel drew a big yawn, reflecting the low esteem the
Malaysian public held for Prime Minister Najib Razak's party which has been
blamed for sinking the country into unprecedented depths of gutter
politicking.

"Basically, the game is up. Nobody is so stupid as to fall for it anymore.
Malaysians have made up their minds how capable a PM Anwar will be and how
capable a PM Najib has been. They will make their decision at the ballot
box, and it will be in Anwar's favor even if Datuk T screens a different sex
video every night," Batu MP Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

Datuk T - Umno's shame or luminaries?

Indeed, even in throwing the challenge to Anwar to sue them if they were
slandering him, the Datuk T trio were quick to warn that they would create a
circus by getting Malaysia's pliable courts to allow them to screen the
video in the courtroom - a threat that is unlikely to deter Anwar.

Just last week, the Opposition Leader had slapped on a RM150 million
defamation suit on Utusan and there is little doubt that after discussion
with his lawyers, Anwar will take the most advantageous course of action
against his accusers.

To many Umno members, the Datuk T trio are a disgrace although the top party
leadership doesn't seem to think so. The trio consists of three prominent
members, namely former Malacca chief minister Rahim Thamby Chik, former
Perkasa treasurer Shuaib Lazim and former consul to Thailand Shazryl Eskay
Abdullah.

All three men were allegedly promised seats to contest if their first ruse
had been successful. Last year, the trio had shocked the nation when they
screened in public a video showing a man they alleged was Anwar having sex
with a female sex worker.

The tape was unveiled just as the Sarawak state assembly was dissolved,
paving way for the statewide polls. It did little to stop Anwar's PKR party
from winning three seats and Pakatan Rakyat colleague DAP from wresting 12
seats.

However, it created a huge backlash against Umno and the bloggers it hired
at enormous cost to drum up the shenanigans against Anwar.

A seat each to contest for the Datuk T trio

In 2011 ruse to discredit Anwar and Pakatan, Shazryl and Rahim played the
lead roles in engaging the press. However, after the tape failed to do
anything more than attract the odium of the Malaysian public, both men have
kept a low profile, with Umno insiders saying that Rahim was still angling
to get a seat to contest in GE-13.

In the latest 'sequel', it has been left to Shuaib Lazim, who is also the
father-in-law of Rural minister Shafie Apdal, to throw down the gauntlet.

"All 3 men thought they would be like PKR's Loh Gwo-Burne who gained fame
and won the Kelana Jaya seat after exposing the Lingam tape showing
judge-fixing activities in Malaysia. But they made a terrible mistake and it
is silly for Rahim to keep pestering Najib for a seat to contest. The only
seat he has a chance to win would be in an Umno stronghold but these seats
are precious and cannot be simply given to just any candidate," an Umno
insider told Malaysia Chronicle.

"Anyway, what has Rahim done for Umno to deserve a safe seat. If Najib gives
in, it can indicate Rahim is applying pressure and this again reflects on
Najib's inability to think clearly and for the longer term. Najib is setting
himself up for all types of political 'blackmail' because of his
unscrupulous dealings. One by one, the creepy crawlies will come out from
the woodwork and demand their 'rightful' seats, and to oblige, Najib will be
forced to take from the deserving. In the end, Umno will be a disaster party
with the most awful lineup of disreputable contestants, mark my words."

Malaysia Chronicle was not able to contact Rahim, who is also chairman of
the government's agricultural agency RISDA. Meanwhile, in a front page
Utusan report, Shuaib said the new sex video was recorded on January 12 and
13 last year in Thailand.

"I have seen the video passed to me by Eskay. I believe Eskay is ready to
make an expose of the video in court if Anwar sues us. Look at (Anwar's)
passport to check where he was. Or ask his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail,"
Shuaib was reported as saying.

Zoo house

Utusan also challenged Anwar to secure the services of video experts if he
wanted to disprove the man in the tape was him. The 64-year-old Anwar has
denied the allegations and has lodged a police report.

The courts have since found the Datuk T trio guilty of screening pornography
in public, passing only the minimal possible fines. However, the police -
accused of collusion with the Najib administration - are still
investigating Anwar under Section 182 of the Penal Code for giving "false
information" meant to injure another person" by denying he was the man in
the video.

Few Malaysians have doubts that Najib will not resort to gutter politicking
to cling to power. His administration has already appealed a High Court
judgment acquitting Anwar from trumped-up sodomy charges.

"Which Malaysian would be surprised if the police comes up with the Omega
watch and charge Anwar for another fabricated allegation? So, what is this
new sex tape Shuaib has brought out? He just wants negative publicity for
Anwar, but basically Malaysians are fed up of Umno's sex, sex, sex.
strategy.This will hurt them, not Anwar or Pakatan. From our get-togethers
with the people, I can tell you the Malays are not happy at the way Umno is
going about using dirty means to win votes and this is good news to us," PKR
vice president Chua Jui Meng told Malaysia Chronicle.

"Also very important was the world reaction when Anwar was declared not
guilty for the Sodomy II. The spontaneous response across the globe was an
eye-opener for Malaysians. The rakyat (citizens) know the world believes it
was Najib and Umno that tried to frame Anwar. It was also clear that to the
other governments, Anwar is the best candidate to be prime minister and they
hope he will make it because the situation is quite critical. Malaysia is at
the brink and if we leave things to people like Najib and the Datuk T - to
manipulate situations and run wild in the country, we will become a
zoo-house."

Malaysia Chronicle
____

http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=27049:exp\
ect-more-fabricated-datuk-t-porn-tapes-as-ge-13-nears-warns-surendran&Itemid=2

Expect more Datuk T porn tapes as GE-13 nears, warns Surendran
Written by N Surendran Friday, 27 January 2012

I refer to the latest disgraceful attempt to smear Parliamentary Opposition
Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim with the fabricated sex video allegations,
published today in the front page of the UMNO-owned Utusan Malaysia
newspaper.

In the report, a member of the notorious 'Datuk T' group, Shuib Lazim,
challenges the Opposition Leader to subject the sex video to forensic tests
and threatens to produce new sex videos. Since March of last year, 'Datuk T'
and UMNO linked media and bloggers have been periodically making the same
type of false, malicious and baseless attack upon Anwar.

This is the low level to which UMNO/BN has sunk. It is significant that
UMNO/BN -linked media and bloggers have been at the forefront of publicising
and repeating the sex video allegations and in displaying the sex video. A
former Umno Vice President, Rahim Thamby Chik, is one of the members of the
porn-peddling 'Datuk T' group, and Umno's fingerprints are all over the
contemptible sex video episode.

Umno's paw-prints all over: New tape to come soon

The challenge to the Opposition leader to subject the sex video to forensic
tests is a shameless and desperate tactic by 'Datuk T' and UMNO/BN. The sex
video is widely disbelieved throughout the country, and there is no need for
Anwar Ibrahim to resort to forensic tests to persuade the public that the
video is a fabrication.

Having themselves been responsible for creating and spreading the fabricated
sex video against Anwar, it is simply outrageous that 'Datuk T' are now
issuing challenges to Anwar !

Today's statement by Shuib Lazim and Utusan Malaysia is also a clear attempt
to lay down the groundwork for the release of new fabricated sex videos
aimed at tarnishing Anwar's reputation.

We expect that more such porn tapes will be fabricated and distributed as
the 13th General Election nears. In the face of these dirty and uncivilised
tactics by UMNO/BN, Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat remain unflinching in
their commitment to the ongoing battle to end corruption, abuse of power and
economic mismanagement in our country.
----------------------------------------------------------------
N Surendran is the PKR vice president