Was Anwar a victim of political interference?

MCA congratulates Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim on his release and pardon by the Pardons Board comittee. It is only right and just that Anwar be pardoned if he has been a political victim. However, if the pardon was granted following proof of political victimisation and interference by the Judiciary, then there is an issue here.    

We would now be forced to face with the ugly truth that our judicial process has been tampered with by politicians in power in the past. How then can Anwar be convicted if he had done no wrong?

Alternatively, we could also be facing a situation where the pardon was actually pre-decided by the present politicians in power.  It could also mean that the Pardons Board has been reduced to rubber stamping whereby decisions are a foregone conclusion even before their deliberation.

These are the issues currently facing the nation. As a matter of principle and on high moral ground, the Pakatan Harapan government should not be seen to be dictating to the Pardons Board before they deliberate. The people have voted for a change of government to uphold the due process of the law and the rule of law should be allowed to prevail. It is the rakyat's will that the Pakatan Harapan government will uphold the ‘Rule of Law’ instead of practising ‘rule by law’. The Pakatan government should now be reminded of this will of the people.

Secondly, can we now conclude that Saiful Bukhari Azlan had in fact wronged Anwar by falsely alleging that he was sodomised by him? Based on the new evidence (if any), Saiful should be made to face the law and be punished for his wrongdoings. However, at this point, we must also realise that there is an issue pertaining to the independence of the Judiciary if there is truly no evidence of any wrongdoing, but yet, Anwar was convicted. Could Anwar's conviction then, have been the result of political interference? It is only right that the new government look into this weakness of the Judicial system, plug it and ensure such an incident is not repeated in future.

Finally, the proposal that the corruption charges of newly appointed Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng be dropped strongly reeks of political interference. It would be best if the due process of the law is respected and followed - justice must be served where it is due. Both institutions of the Attorney-General and the Judiciary must be allowed to discharge their duties without any form of interference. If politicians start giving these institutions certain instructions, then we are no different from what we were before - when we alleged political interference. MCA strongly urges the Pakatan Harapan government to be transparent and to refrain from interfering or asserting any political pressure on the institutions tasked with carrying out and upholding the law.

Dato’ Sri Ti Lian Ker
MCA Publicity Spokesman
MCS Religious Harmony Bureau Chairman

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