Sodomy Conviction of Malaysian Politician Overturned
The
Advocate, September 4-7, 2004
Anwar Ibrahim, former deputy prime minister of Malaysia,
savored his first full day of freedom in six years Friday after his dramatic
release from prison, and he tested the waters for a comeback in Malaysian
politics.
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad fired Anwar in September
1998 because Anwar allegedly had engaged in homosexual acts. At the time
Malaysia was mired in the Asian economic crisis, and the two men held
different views over how to resolve it. Anwar’s sacking sparked the
southeast Asian country’s biggest street demonstrations in decades. Several
weeks after his removal from office Anwar was placed on trial for alleged
abuse of power and sexual misconduct. He was convicted of corruption in April
1999 for allegedly using his position as Malaysia’s second in command to
cover up his same-sex trysts.
In an interview with the Associated Press at his home in
an affluent Kuala Lumpur suburb, Anwar smiled, laughed, and looked far more
relaxed than during a tense appearance Thursday, when Malaysia’s highest
court overturned his sodomy conviction. “It’s an indescribable feeling to
be among family and friends,” said Anwar, who enjoyed a breakfast with his
children and saw them off to school.
Anwar also obtained a passport to travel to Germany to
have surgery for a back injury due partly to a police beating he suffered
after his arrest in 1998. He had sought the surgery for years, but authorities
previously refused to let him leave the country.
Sitting in a wheelchair and wearing a neck brace, Anwar
said he would never have been let out of prison if his former boss were still
in power. Asked by reporters whether he would run in the next general
election, which must be held by March 2009, Anwar said, “Let me get my back
repaired first.”
Anwar remains barred from elected office for five years
for a corruption conviction, which still stands although he has served the
sentence. Anwar could return to politics immediately if the corruption
conviction is overturned. Another federal court panel is scheduled to start
hearings Monday on whether the court’s previous ruling to uphold the
conviction can be appealed and possibly thrown out. A decision could be months
away. Anwar said he wants the court to give him a fair hearing and not come up
with a compromise that serves political ends and keeps him from contesting
elections. “I should not have been prosecuted or convicted in the first
place,” Anwar said.
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