by Wong Choon Mei
In the wake of the latest disclosures by former US ambassador
to Malaysia John Malott, Pakatan Rakyat leaders have demanded that Prime
Minister Najib Razak and former premier Mahathir Mohamad come clean on
allegations they had plotted to jail Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim on
trumped-up sodomy charges,
"The ball is in Najib's
court. He is the sitting PM and he must state very cleary, is he involved and
was there any tie-up with Mahathir in the current case and in 1998," MP
for Ipoh Barat M Kulasegaran told Malaysia Chronicle.
"I think the Malaysian public is already very well aware
of all the writing on the wall, but now a former US ambassador has said it loud
and clear. This is serious and must be answered. To keep quiet would put
Malaysia to shame. It is time for Najib to realise he is not PM just for UMNO
but also for all Malaysia."
Indeed the article entitled Malott drops a
bombshell: A secret pact between Najib and Anwar offered a
shocking insight into the world of UMNO politics, regarded as being amongst the
dirtiest in the region. In fact, for several hours after publishing the
article, the Malaysia Chronicle website came under attack by unidentified
hackers.
Two different sources told the
US embassy
Malott was in charge of the Kuala Lumpur mission from 1995 to
1998, In his article, he told of how a decision was made by the powers-that-be
during that time to keep persecuting Anwar until he was immunised and useless
politically.
Two different sources, Najib's close aide Razak Baginda and a
Special Branch officer, told his embassy officers of a plot to shut out Anwar
at all costs.
Now 64, Anwar had then been the Deputy Prime Minister
cum Finance Minister as well as deputy UMNO president. He was a shining star
and by 1997, had already built enough grassroots support to successfully
challenge Mahathir for the top job.
Anwar had then led a team called Wawasan 2020 or Vision 2020
within UMNO and this was considered the dream team of its time. According to
Malott's article, Anwar had also struck an alliance with Najib, who agreed to
be DPM to Anwar's PM when Mahathir was gone.
Dirty
politics not acceptable
But then Najib betrayed Anwar, siding with Mahathir
once Anwar was sacked and thrown into jail on trumped-up sodomy charges in
1998.
"This reflects a
treacherous streak in Najib but what is more worrisome is the possible
collusion between Mahathir and Najib to 'do in' Anwar so to speak. Obviously,
this goes against transparency and good governance and Najib owes the nation an
explanation or step down," PKR vice president Tian Chua told Malaysia
Chronicle.
Tian's
sentiments were echoed by other colleagues, who said that Malaysians had the
right to know if their leaders were practising dirty politics and the
right to decide if they should be punished for doing so.
"This is explosive
information. We are shocked at the disclosures and Najib must to clear his name
on this matter. No less than a former high-level US official with access to the
best information and contacts has spoken out. It should be debated and
discussed openly because the people have been suspecting it for years and have
the right to know if their leaders are practising dirty politics. These sort of
methods are no longer acceptable in today's society. And then, most of all
Anwar has the right to justice," PKR communications director Nik Nazmi told Malaysia Chronicle.
Indeed, if found guilty Anwar stands to be jailed for up to
20 years.
Najib
following in Mahathir's footsteps
Malott also disclosed how Najib's close aide Razak
Baginda had told a US embassy staff that a decision had been made to
"nuke" Anwar until he could "never stand up again politically.”
After that, a Special Branch officer had also told an Embassy
official, “We are going to keep filing charge after charge after Anwar so he
will be in jail for the next hundred years.”
"Can there be any doubt about what was going on then –
and what is going on now?" said Malott, who also described the onslaught
by Anwar's enemies as a "political decision".
On Monday, when defending himself against the 2008 sodomy
charges he has accused Najib and wife Rosmah Mansor of hatching, Anwar told the
court.
“This entire process is
nothing but a conspiracy by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Najib Razak to send me
into political oblivion by attempting once again to put me behind bars. I
therefore declare that I have no faith whatsoever that justice will prevail in
these proceedings notwithstanding the valiant efforts made by my defence team.
As I have said at the outset, this is not a criminal trial. It is a charade
staged by the powers that be to put me out of action in order that they remain
in power.”
"In 1998, Tun Dr.
Mahathir Mohamad did just that and by his Machiavellian use of all the organs
of power of the State, succeeded in getting me convicted for fifteen years for
offences that I had never committed. Such was the tyranny and injustice done to
me then. And such is the tyranny and injustice being "perpetuated
today."
"Najib
Razak is doing the same thing as his mentor did, which is to employ all means
within his power through the media, the police, the Attorney General and the
judiciary in order to subvert the course of justice and to take me out of the
political equation."
"This
relentless conviction to send me back to prison became all the more imperative
because of the major victories gained by the opposition Pakatan Rakyat in the
March 2008 elections. Their worst fears were confirmed when it became clear
that once my legal disqualification was over I would be contesting for a
parliamentary seat and if I won, would be elected leader of the
opposition."
Source : MC
EmpireMoney
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