Anwar demands Malaysia clean-up - The Observer

By John Aglionby in Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia's former Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, who was jailed for six years on trumped-up corruption and sodomy charges, has threatened to overturn the political establishment that imprisoned him.

Two months after his release, the charismatic politician has spelt out a radical plan to replace the 'feudal and corrupt' establishment with a true democracy.

'It's not even the excesses; it's the basic rules we're missing,' he told The Observer in the first interview with a British newspaper since his release. 'The elections are not free and fair, the media is completely controlled, the judiciary is not independent and corruption is endemic.'

Anwar, 57, was regarded in the West as a political prisoner after he was fired by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in 1998 and within days incarcerated on flimsy graft and sodomy charges. He garnered further worldwide sympathy after the national police chief beat him up in custody.

When Abdullah Badawi replaced Mahathir last year, he did not block Anwar's appeal against the sodomy conviction, and he was freed in September, going straight to Germany for spinal surgery.

Now back in Malaysia, Anwar is trying to rally and unify the fragmented opposition and, in the absence of any help from the mainstream media, take his message directly to the people.

Despite Abdullah's control of the media and police, there are already signs that Anwar is making headway.

[More at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/nov/28/malaysia]

Kadir Says Recent Money Politics Worst In Umno - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- Judging by his outburst Tuesday, the fume in Datuk Paduka Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, who lost his Umno supreme council seat in last week's party election, has not simmered down.

Monday he broke his silence, saying that he was surprised to have been defeated despite receiving favourable number of nominations. On Tuesday, he came with a stronger statement.

The Sept 23 election was smeared with the worst case of money politics in the 34 years he had held national-level positions in the party, he said.

The Information Minister revealed that for the first time in all these years, he was persuaded by certain people (in the just-concluded election) to pay for votes.

"But I said no...I am orang lama (veteran). I couldn't do that."

"I have been with the party virtually for my entire life. I cannot destroy the party," Abdul Kadir told reporters after a luncheon he hosted for foreign correspondents at the Mutiara Hotel here.

In fact, he said, his own supporters warned him that it would be difficult for him to defend his supreme council post if money was not splashed.

[More at http://web5.bernama.com/umno2004/fullnews.php?id=95533]

Other Races Need Not Worry - Umno Leaders - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- Non-Malays need not worry over Umno's effort to position the Malays in the rightful place as it is aimed at ensuring their 30 per cent share of the economic cake is realised.

Umno Supreme Council (MT) member who bagged the highest number of votes, Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Khir Toyo said the non-Malays should view it positively.

This is because the Malays are still not satisfied with their economic achievement although the New Economic Policy has expired.

The Selangor Umno chief and Menteri Besar was asked to comment on the adjournment speech by the party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the Umno annual general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre, here Saturday.

Dr Khir said that if the feeling of dissatisfaction among the Malays was left unattended, it would become cancerous and could finally lead to unfavourable consequences.

On the effort to bring Malay professionals together to help achieve the Malay agenda, Dr Khir said Umno's door was always opened.

[More at http://web5.bernama.com/umno2004/fullnews.php?id=95037]

Abdullah's Call Well Received - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- The various calls made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in championing the Malay agenda during his winding up speech at the Umno General Assembly which ended Saturday, has been well received by other leaders.

Among others the new Umno president urged Umno members to work as a team to ensure the fulfilment of the Malay agenda and implement the concept of Islam Hadhari (Civilizational Islam) to achieve Malay glory.

In welcoming the call, vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said since the new party leadership had been established, everybody must close ranks to strengthen the party as requested by Abdullah.

"He (Abdullah) called on the new leadership line-up to work together for the betterment of the party," he said.

Muhyiddin said the President had also clearly defined the expectations and responsibilities required of Umno leaders to ensure Malay and national development.

Also special was Abdullah's invitation to all those who had lost in the election to continue serving the party.

[More at http://web5.bernama.com/umno2004/fullnews.php?id=95041]

Ailing Anwar cheered by well-wishers - The Guardian

By John Aglionby, South-east Asia correspondent

Thousands of supporters of Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's newly freed former deputy prime minister, went to Kuala Lumpur airport late on Saturday night to bid him farewell when he left for emergency spinal surgery in Germany.

Mr Anwar, 57, arrived in Munich yesterday and will have an operation today to cure his spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the gaps in the spinal column that results in extreme pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.

Observers and officials of Mr Anwar's People's Justice party (Keadilan) said the spontaneous demonstration by 4,000 people in Kuala Lumpur proved that the charismatic former political prisoner was likely to become an important figure in the pro-democracy movement, and mocked claims by the ruling coalition that he was an insignificant political force.

Carrying party flags and placards of support, the demonstration was by far the largest since Mr Anwar was freed after the overturning of his sodomy conviction last Thursday.

Cries of, "Long live Anwar" and "Reformasi", the slogan of the reform movement Mr Anwar led after being sacked in 1998 until he was arrested a few months later.

[More at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/sep/06/malaysia]

Malaysia press relieved at Anwar release - BBC News

Malaysia's press is breathing a collective sigh of relief at the release of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Commentators see the move as turning a new page in Malaysia's political life, arguing that it also reflects well on prime minister Abdullah Badawi.

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The decision to free Anwar Ibrahim has negated the suspicion and allegations of various parties that our legal institutions were not free, and accusations that the government was interfering with the law or using its influence in a court's decision. When the court sentenced and freed Anwar, it made the decision in accordance with legal processes, and had nothing to do with politics.


Berita Harian

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The court decision could be seen as yet another defining moment for the leadership of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi. Anwar's acquittal should bring the curtains down on one of the most protracted and bizarre political sagas the country has ever seen. As Malaysians, it is perhaps the right time to close this chapter in our history and move on.


New Straits Times

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Now that Anwar has been set free with a verdict of not guilty, we believe the international impression of our country will change. The Anwar incident has come to an end, and we expect this to have a positive influence on our country's political and social development to enable it to play a more positive role in the international community


Sin Chew Jit Poh

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This move has opened an important page in our country's judiciary and political history. From this nine month-long trial, we can see the resolve of the Abdullah government to shape an honest and clean administration and a fair and equitable society, in order to eradicate the abuse of power and extremely corrupt practices.


China Press

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The Federal Court's acquittal brings to a close a tragic chapter in the nation's history. Although the events triggered by Anwar's removal from power six years ago to the day are slowly receding into the past, the stains on the judiciary, executive and mass media are likely to remain for a while yet. This is a time for Malays and Malaysian society at large to reconcile themselves to the Anwar episode and move beyond it.


TheSun

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This put a closure to one of the most trying times in Malaysian political history. Abdullah's popularity, the buoyant economy and political fatigue have consigned the Anwar issue to the sidelines.


New Straits Times

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Since the 2003 election, Malaysian politics has entered a new watershed, and the Anwar factor will no longer be an issue. The influence of Anwar's release on Malaysia will be more positive than negative.


[From http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3623946.stm]

Malaysian court frees Anwar - CNN

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia -- Malaysia's highest court has overturned the controversial sodomy conviction of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim and freed him from prison.

The Federal Court ruled 2-1 to reverse the conviction against one of Asia's best-known political rebels on Thursday, six years after his firing triggered off the Southeast Asian nation's biggest political crisis.

Anwar, once considered the heir-apparent to then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, was sacked and jailed in September 1998 after falling out with Malaysia's leader.

In his first remarks to reporters, Anwar claimed the convictions against him had been "highly politically motivated" but that he bore no ill will toward Mahathir, The Associated Press reported.

[More at http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/09/02/malaysia.anwar/index.html]

Anwar in court for 'final appeal' - BBC News

Former Malaysian deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has returned to court for what his lawyers say is his last chance to overturn his conviction for sodomy.

During the hearing, he shouted abuse at two of the judges, after failing to get them removed from his case.

"I see no point in proceeding if this will be a foregone conclusion. This is a facade of a fair trial," he said.

Mr Anwar was arrested in 1998 after leading anti-government protests. He was later jailed for 15 years.

He claims the trial was politically motivated, and denies all the charges against him.

Human rights groups say the hearing will test the new prime minister's commitment to an independent judiciary.

[More at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3699313.stm]

Malaysia cabinet keeps old guard - BBC News

By Jonathan Kent
BBC, Kuala Lumpur

The Malaysian prime minister has reshuffled his cabinet following his ruling coalition's overwhelming victory in last Sunday's general election.

However, Abdullah Badawi has not made the sweeping changes widely expected.

Mr Abdullah promised Malaysians change and a clean government. Opposition leaders have described the appointments as flawed.

It was expected that the new prime minister would remove ministers close to his predecessor Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Dr Mahathir is blamed by many for the rise of cronyism and sleaze. But many of the old faces remain.

Malaysia's ministers for international trade, for entrepreneur development and for public works have all found themselves embroiled in scandal, but all have kept their positions.

Mr Abdullah said all were clean. Most other senior cabinet posts remain unchanged; nor is Mr Abdullah delegating much of his own heavy workload.

Although he has enlarged the cabinet and created new ministries, the prime minister is keeping his finance portfolio and half of his home ministry responsibilities.

[More at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3574267.stm]

Malaysia election chief urged to quit - AFP

Pressure is mounting on Malaysia’s election commission chief Abd Al-Rashid Abd Al-Rahman and his entire team to quit over his handling of the polls which gave the government a landslide victory.

A local watchdog, the Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections, said Sunday’s election was badly managed and the worst ever held since independence in 1957 and should be nullified.

Khairul Anuar, secretary of the watchdog, said on Thursday around 100 volunteers travelled nationwide to observe the election process.

Prime Minister Abd Allah Ahmad Badawi’s ruling National Front won a landslide victory against the Islamic Party (PAS).

Opposition parties had said there were irregularities in the electoral roll that kept thousands of voters from the ballot box.

The Election Commission (EC) was forced to extend voting by two hours in central Selangor state after discrepancies in the rolls saw names of many voters missing from the lists.

[More at http://english.aljazeera.net/English/archive/archive?ArchiveId=2710]

Malaysia PM basks in vote triumph - BBC News

By Jonathan Kent
BBC, Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia's general election had not been expected to produce shocks, but in the end it did.

The country's Prime Minister of five months, Abdullah Badawi, had asked the people to give him a strong mandate and they responded, beyond the ruling coalition's expectations.

The Malaysian media dubbed it the blue wave. The Prime Minister's ruling Barisan Nasional, or National Front, coalition with its dark blue flag washed across Malaysia and its opponents were swept away.

The main opposition party, Pas, which wants to introduce hard-line Islamic laws into Muslim dominated areas, suffered worst.

It boasted 26 MPs in the old 193-strong parliament. Now it has just seven in the enlarged 219-seat assembly.

Worse still it lost control of the state government in rural Terengganu and came within a few hundred votes of surrendering the neighbouring state of Kelantan - its supposedly impregnable stronghold.

[More at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3560519.stm]

Abdullah sworn in as Malaysian PM - BBC News

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has been sworn in as the country's leader after winning a landslide general election victory.

The ruling National Front coalition also won 12 out of 13 states, recapturing the state of Terengganu from the Islamic Party (Pas).

Pas managed to hold onto its other state, Kelantan, by a slim majority.

The overall result is a major victory for Mr Abdullah, who assumed power in October when Mahathir Mohamad retired.

The 64-year-old career politician and former Islamic student had campaigned hard in the northern states - a heartland for ethnic Malay Muslims - and has called for "modern and progressive" Islamic rule.

"This big win means a lot to us all. It represents the acceptance, the support of the people for the coalition," Mr Abdullah said after declaring victory.

[More at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3556761.stm]

Malaysia's PM forces elections - The Guardian

By John Aglionby

Malaysia's prime minister, Abdullah Badawi, yesterday announced the dissolution of parliament in an attempt to secure his own mandate and the legitimacy he has lacked since replacing Mahathir Mohamad last October.
Polling day, which the electoral commission will set when the state legislatures have also been dissolved, is expected to be before the end of the month.

The ruling National Front (BN) coalition of 12 parties from Malay, Chinese and Indian backgrounds is almost certain to be returned with a handsome majority.

But unless Mr Badawi can reverse the slide at the last election in 1999, where BN's support slumped to 56.5% of the popular vote, analysts say his own position is at risk within his United Malays National Organisation.

Many factors are in Mr Badawi's favour: he has shown a determination to tackle corruption; the economy is picking up; and the opposition is far from united. But many of Malaysia's 10 million voters have only ever known one leader and might opt for change.

[From http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/mar/04/malaysia]

Malaysia's Anwar refused bail - BBC News

Malaysia's court of appeal has refused to grant bail to jailed former Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar reacted in court by shouting that the judges were "spineless".

He had asked to be freed from prison pending an appeal against a conviction for sodomy so he could travel abroad for medical treatment.

His appeal was being watched for signs of a new approach to the case, now the country's new Prime Minister, Abdullah Badawi, has taken office.

"We are unanimous in our conclusion that the first applicant (Anwar) had failed to demonstrate reasonably to our satisfaction that his case is within the category of 'special or exceptional circumstances' which warrants his release on bail pending appeal," the panel of appeal court judges said in a written judgement after the hearing.

The court also ruled that it does not have the power to review its decision last year to reject his appeal against Anwar's conviction for sodomy.

[More at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3415715.stm]

Najib pledges loyalty and full dedication - Daily Express

NAJIB on Wednesday pledged to help Abdullah in administering the country with loyalty and dedication.

He said as required of a Deputy Prime Minister, he was willing to work with full dedication and muster the skills and abilities to implement the work that needed to be done.

Najib was speaking at his maiden press conference as the new Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister at the Defence Ministry in Kuala Lumpur.

He said he was aware of the heavy responsibilities entrusted to him but was confident of discharging them to the best of his abilities with the prayers and co-operation of all Malaysians.

He also thanked the Prime Minister for placing his confidence in him to serve as his deputy.

“I am determined to be a deputy who is able to help the Prime Minister to the best of my abilities in implementing the Government policies and agenda laid down by him,” said Najib, who is also the Defence Minister.

Najib said he would focus on the Prime Minister’s agenda to come up with a more efficient government and delivery system and combat corruption.

[More at http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=24014]

Malaysia PM names deputy - BBC News

Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has ended months of speculation by appointing a deputy.

Najib Tun Razak is expected to be sworn in later on Wednesday, in a move that is being seen as a sign that Mr Abdullah is preparing to call a general election.

Malaysians have been waiting to find out who he would make his second in command ever since it was announced 18 months ago that he would become prime minister.

The deputy's post is seen as a stepping-stone to the top job and many will now expect Mr Najib, Malaysia's defence minister, to succeed his boss when he eventually stands down.

Mr Abdullah is said to have delayed naming a deputy until his key policies were established.

With his political platform and his number two in place, Malaysians can expect to go to the polls within months.

[More at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3374819.stm]