UPDATED ON:
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
21:32 Mecca time, 18:32 GMT
 
News Asia-Pacific
Police arrest Malaysia's Anwar

Anwar says the allegations against him are politically motivated [AFP]

Malaysia's de facto opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, has been arrested shortly before he was due to give a statement to police over allegations that he sexually assaulted a male aide.

Anwar's lawyer told Al Jazeera police stopped his client's car near his home in Kuala Lumpur, the capital, at about midday on Wednesday and took him to police headquarters.

Earlier police had obtained an arrest warrant for Anwar, saying he had failed to respond to a request to be questioned over allegations made by a male former aide that he had been sodomised by Anwar.

Mohamad Bakri Zinin, head of the police criminal investigation department, had warned of "necessary action" should the de facto opposition leader fail to appear for questioning before the 2pm (06:00 GMT) deadline on Wednesday.

It is not clear why police acted before the deadline as Anwar's lawyer had said his client would abide by the police order and was prepared to be arrested.

Later on Wednesday, Sankara NairAnwar's lawyers said that Anwar would remain in detention overnight and possibly longer.

"The excuse is that they need to take further statements" he said.

Sodomy is a non-bailable offence punishable by up to 20 years in jail in Malaysia.

Early this month, Anwar filed a defamation lawsuit against the 23-year-old man who claimed he was sodomised by the opposition leader.

Previous allegations

A similar sodomy allegation 10 years ago led to his sacking as deputy prime minister and a prison sentence, but the country's highest court subsequently overturned the conviction.

He did, however, spend six years in prison on a related corruption charge.

"There's no basis for this whole fabrication and malicious attacks. It is just a repeat of the 1998 script. You can see the  pattern," he said on Wednesday. "I will challenge them on every ground."

Earlier this month he filed a police complaint against the country's national police chief and the attorney-general over that incident, alleging the two had fabricated evidence against him.

Anwar, who on Tuesday debated with the information minister on the country's recent massive fuel price hike, has repeatedly said the current sodomy allegation was politically motivated to stop his campaign to topple the Barisan Nasional government.

The one-hour debate with Ahmad Shabery Cheek was Malaysia's first ever live television debate with a cabinet minister.

 Source: Agencies
Feedback Number of comments : 30
 
RKP
Afghanistan
16/07/2008
Instilling fear tactic?
Immediately after the arrest,the malaysian tv showed running commentary of the malaysian army in training (to instill fear in the citizens) Who will help Anwar and Malaysians from tyranny?

adam
Maldives
16/07/2008
This nothing but political assassination to remove and destroy him from politics. They will never defeat him in election, so this will stop him from being able to contest in any.

mh
Afghanistan
16/07/2008
anwar
RY's comments are totally hypocritical. Who created tension? The government ministers - deputy prime minister and education minister - who raised their daggers and threatened to spill blood of citizens of other races.

zulkifli
Malaysia
16/07/2008
Anwar
He wants to be PM. He said he would go to the police. He did not. They have a warrant. So they arrest him. Now all the press is there. He plays the underdog. He loves it. He does not care about much else. He wants to be PM So badly.

Jihaadhu
Maldives
16/07/2008
what a arrest?
The Government of Malaysia has done 10 years ago and again repeated. Maldivian Government has done the same with Mr. Gasim Ibrahim 4 years ago and may repeat the same in few weeks or few days.

Papa
Malaysia
16/07/2008
Anwar Ibrahim Punished before found guilty
If our king (Agong) didn't act anything, the 1998 drama will repeat and Malaysia will all the way become the laughing stock to the world.

zm
Singapore
16/07/2008
his family reflect his character
look at his wife and daugters dressing ( head covered , a true devout muslim. a man who brought his family the way a good muslim should be , charge with sodomy? Surah 24 Al-Nur (The Light) ayat 31

wkpk
Malaysia
21/07/2008
Not professional
Those idiot police force listened to rumours that caused a massive jam on July 14 2008 in K.L. Remember PM had already advised Malaysians not to listen to rumours on July 4 when Bala revealed DPM Razid's sex affair with the Mongolian Altantuya. When Anwar and his lawyers asuured the police that they would be at the police HQ at the appointed time. That telephone communication assurance was called just minutes before he was arrested by the masked police. So who and what is more proffesion?

Prakash
Malaysia
16/07/2008
Malaysian people fuming
The arrest of Anwar Ibrahim is uncalled for. Its barbaric! The Malaysian government is not democratic and is corrupted to the core! We the citizens of malaysia can only sit and watch as they continue to threaten the public with arrest and use of force if we protest, even if its peaceful. We need foreign countries to pressure our government.

Kean
Malaysia
16/07/2008
Burma and Zimbabwe In The Making
Both police & army forces were suppose to protect its citizens and separate itself from politic influence. This is what happen when they choose to become a lap dog of a corrupted government. As a citizens of Malaysia who was born and live for 25 years in this country, it is sad to see a beloved country fall apart in the name of CORRUPTION. Will you call this democracy where you have a government that you didn't voted them to be? We are heading towards the same lvl as Burma and Zimbabwe.

RY
Malaysia
16/07/2008
Serves him right. He was purposely creating tension by not turning up to make a statement. Like it or not, it is a criminal case and the police have a right to issue a warrant of arrest as he, very publicly, has shown a lack of cooperation. In any other country, he would have been arrested a week ago.

ali
Malaysia
16/07/2008
injustice
its unfair for police to arrest anwar before the deadline of 2pm..since when malaysian police acted so fast?

NotMyType
Malaysia
16/07/2008
anwar arrest
The arrest has distorted some bloggers thoughts, as such RY must get your facts right. The dateline is 14.00 today not last week. U presume the unwarranted action hence where is democracy and the just of the August House?

Concerned Citizen
Malaysia
16/07/2008
"The police were worried that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim would not show up at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters by 2pm and therefore decided to arrest him. "So this means that if I am 'WORRIED' about someone, without any proof or evidence, then I can just arrest him!? We really need outsiders help in here. There's no use in discussing when justice is not present. HELP!! PEOPLE OF THE WORLD, PLEASE FREE US FROM THOSE TYRANTS!! =(

Hameed
Malaysia
16/07/2008
Malaysain Govt. is stupid to the bone!
Malaysain Govt. is stupid to the bone! The corrupt UMNO led government is making life difficult for this peace loving nation. They are following MUGABE tactics and ruining the economy of this country. Foreign investors will go away. Malaysia is in for darker days to come.

Steven
Malaysia
16/07/2008
Anwar Arrested!
We need outsider's help to solve this problem, if not all the time they will arrest and charge him all the time he bounce back. Really we can see how Malaysian politician missused their political power! We need Anwar to build a new government and we need people's from around the world to help him. We cant do anything.....Please help him.

Has
Malaysia
16/07/2008
Anwar Ibrahim
He is the finest man I have ever met. RY - your comment was done w/o any consideration to the facts! Anwar is to be at the Police HQ before 2PM and he was arrested around 1PM. If you know how to calculate....than he still had about on hour time left! My God bless Anwar and his family

Lumiere
Thailand
16/07/2008
Old Dogs with lame tricks
It is so pathetic to see Malaysia GOV resorting to the same old lame tactic. For pete sake he is a married man with wife and children. You might as well put some BLOW and C4 in his car and accuse him of being a drug lord and terrorist. The current GOV is condemning the future of its people. Pity those that voted for the current GOV. I agree with Kean that this is Zimbabwe in the making where the GOV is PLAYING GOD. Stop the facade acting all high and mighty. There is HIM above you all.

delCapo
Malaysia
16/07/2008
dear Malaysian Police & Government
i want to express my utter disgust at the police's actions. dear Police & BN Govt.... this is a 60 yr old man with a bad back. He had just spent hours at the ACA.. He had excused himself, with apologies, at the ACA TO MAKE SURE he would not be late for the 2pm appointment with the CID He had detoured HOME for lunch & maybe a short break before an anticipated long session at the police station later. He had planty of time between 1255pm & 2pm to be on time. He just had a teleconversati

Ente Sunny
Malaysia
16/07/2008
Completely illegitimate government
The Barisan National's time has passed, they know that, the country is coming to realise this. They are corrupt and rotten to the core and leading Malaysia towards a pathaologically destructive direction. Political change is underway, espeically in Sabah and Sarawak, political consciousness is at a all time high! We can now see that those corrupt businessmen-cum-politicians that immitate a functioning government, those with the biggest stake in a free and open society will not go quietly

dharma
Malaysia
16/07/2008
His debate with the information minister last night clearly shows he's more than just a prime minister in waiting? Is it merely a co-incidence that his arrest was preceeded by his interview with the anti corruption agency on the report he made against the chief of police? I truly hope not for the sake of the country.

Affendia Mhd
Malaysia
16/07/2008
Anwar arrest
Anwar is a trouble maker who is only interested in becoming prime minister. First he betrayed Dr. Mahathir, people were angry as he made trouble during the CW Games for which we prepared long. When back from jail he changed his views from a malay party to a multi-racial party. Why? Because malays alone would never vote for him to become PM. Monday would go to the police, he did not. Now arrested, what else are they supposed to do? He is a publicity seeker and a trouble maker.

LGS
Malaysia
16/07/2008
Anwars arrest
This is totally unfair and brutal of the government in arresting for someone has voiced the truth all this while. Truth never dies one must understand. We need the support of international alliances to bail out Anwar. He is people's Leader...the way what every citizens wants. Long Live Anwar

shinebabloo
Maldives
16/07/2008
anwarss arrest
Govt. of Malaysia is repeating the same mistake again. If our Gasim Ibrahim is arrested like that we will not for trial. We will move to jail and bring him . And we will not breath till the government is locked in the same cell in prison. the we waited in Jumhooree maidhan awaiting Mr. Gasim's return is over.

Naim
Malaysia
16/07/2008
during the debate the whole world watced the soft spoken and charismatic leader showed us the malaysians that he is worth our votes, our prayer for him and his family. we are all behind him, may Allah bless you and give strength to your family and to those people who are behind this political assasination : would you be able to sleep tight every night? Don't you fear Allah? ITTAQULLAH!!!

Jesus
Afghanistan
16/07/2008
No-faith Police
zulkifli, you are so funny! No, they didn't show any warrant for arrest! and Anwar has already confirmed that he would go to the police station at 2 pm. The police said they arrested him because they worried too much, now, read carefully, police said they worried he would not go to them so they arrested him! What kind of country is this? and what kind of "god-fearing" man are you? Porah!

Pepe Real
Uruguay
16/07/2008
The Anwar Ibrahim intrigue
Malaysian politics are very intriguing and there is great amount fear in the population, especially since the local Chinese were brutally dealt with in the 60s uprisings. The UMNO government will only go down fighting tooth and nail, as it is doing right now. The racial divisions between the Malay and the larger ethnic groups, ie Indian and Chinese, are alive and well. Add to this religion and class/caste differences and you have a tasty social cocktail. Malaysians must stand for their rights.

Terence
Malaysia
16/07/2008
Injustice
Please do not let this happen again to a good man . i hope and urge the international comunity especially the United States of America and also divine intervention to stop this injustice/cruel act . It 's already bad that this incident had happen once but to happen again is unthinkable . He is fighting for all Malaysian and as one, I will do everything and anything to support and back you up in any way I can.

Wati
Malaysia
16/07/2008
Malaysia Ruiling party wont give up!!!
After the general elections of March 8, 2008 the BN’s lost state governments This has caused great worry in UMNO that their days are truly numbered. There is a morbid fear that charismatic Anwar Ibrahim with rising popularity, will actually make good on his word to take over the government in a few months..UMNO does not care about world opinion.

NotMy Type
Malaysia
17/07/2008
ANWAR ARREST
I m still amazed that fear itself has coused desperation on the ruling goverment to assume a malice. Only superhero's like Superman and Sipderman emerge as saviour in times of turmoil, hence we Malaysians await our PKR supremo and pave a better pathway for Malaysians.

 
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