Why is Anifah Attacking Anwar?

ARCHIVES 2009

By admin-s On May 16, 2009

By Din Merican

Foreign Minister Anifah Aman is busy attacking Anwar Ibrahim at the State Department in front of Hillary Clinton and a bunch of journalists? Why? Why does a country’s foreign minister feel the need to take personal attacks against an opposition leader in a press conference on US – Malaysia relations?

Watch the video here. The question from the Reuters journalist comes in around the 15:00 minute mark where the journalist asks: (sorry, it loads quite slowly in Malaysia where we still have internet access speeds from 1998)

Opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim faces charges again, and I believe a trial later this summer, on charges that the State Department itself in the annual human rights report said are politically motivated. Did you raise his case specifically in your meeting today?

Secretary Clinton’s response was pretty clear. We think the case stinks to high heaven as the State Department said last summer and Malaysia better not pull another 1998. She said:

Well, with respect to the latter question, we raised rule of law issues and the larger questions concerning the institutional reforms that Malaysia has been pursuing. We’re on record as to our opinion as to that particular case, and I think that speaks for itself.

Anifah should have said that Malaysia’s legal system is credible and due process would be followed in the administration of justice. And left it at that. Instead he opened his mouth and inserted his foot as far as it could go by attacking Anwar Ibrahim. He said: