Australia is being challenged to speak up on behalf of Malaysia’s opposition leader as he faces “a travesty of justice” and the prospect of prison this month.
Anwar Ibrahim is appealing against a highly controversial sodomy conviction, and one of his lawyers has been charged with sedition for saying the scandal is politically motivated.
Anwar, too, is under further investigation, accused of making seditious comments in a political speech.
His 28 October appeal against the sodomy conviction may spark political tensions in Malaysia.
On Friday he met the independent senator Nick Xenophon in Jakarta. Xenophon was detained and deported when he tried to visit Anwar in Kuala Lumpur last year.
Xenophon said if Australia was any kind of friend to Malaysia, it would speak up.
“This is a travesty of justice,” he told reporters in Jakarta.
“It feels like Anwar has more charges against him than Muhammad Ali has had punches. It is a very serious issue.”
Anwar agreed Malaysian authorities, “on direction from the government”, were determined to put him behind bars.”
In his 2011 speech, he says, he said the words “fight the evil government”. That was now being considered sedition.
“I convey my appreciation to senator Nick Xenophon and my friends here who conveyed their concern for me,” he said.
Xenophon said he also remained concerned about the voter irregularities he had wanted to examine last year when he was detained.
“I think unofficially it’s expected that the real vote was much greater for the Malaysian opposition,” he said.
“So, this is the man who should be the prime minister of Malaysia today.” -http://www.theguardian.com
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