Anwar trial bad for country’s image: Muhyiddin

“The sooner this matter is resolved, the better for us.”

(The Star) –  Malaysia will be better off without high-profile cases such as the on-going sodomy trial of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the trial was bad for the country’s image.

“If you ask me, personally, would you like this case to be in the Malaysian court? I wouldn’t like this case to be in the Malaysian court.

“It’s true that if there are no cases of such a high profile, then Malaysia will be much better positioned.

“The sooner this matter is resolved, the better for us,” he told a press conference here Tuesday after delivering Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak’s keynote address at the International Herald Tribune Forum on alternative investment in Asia, here.

On Monday, Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson had remarked that Anwar’s ongoing trial was “a thorn” in Malaysia’s otherwise good reputation, and urged the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter.

“If you’re a bold leader, you should get rid of things like this which are damaging your reputation,” Branson said.

Muhyiddin stressed that Anwar’s trial was not brought by any parties but an individual who felt he had the right to be protected by whatever law in the country.