Tan Keng Liang and Ambiga in war of words on Twitter

(The Star) – A war of words erupted on Twitter on Monday between Gerakan national youth chief Tan Keng Liang (pic above) and Negara-Ku co-chair Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan (pic below) after Tan told foreign observers to butt out over the sodomy charges faced by PKR de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“Foreign parties should respect Malaysian laws. Sodomy may not be a crime in your country, but it is a crime in our country. Mind your own business,” said Tan on his official Twitter account, @tankengliang.

This prompted a reply from Ambiga, who questioned why Malaysia go all-out to get on the United Nations Security Council if international opinion of the country was irrelevant.

“And this is not about the offence but about political persecution (which is obvious to all) and upholding the rule of law,” added Ambiga via her account, @Ambiga_S.

In response, Tan said that while international opinion was welcomed, the Malaysian laws on sodomy should be respected, adding that if foreign parties feel that Malaysian laws on sodomy were unfair, they should propose for its repeal.

“Why make unfair remarks against Malaysia, such as political persecution? The question is whether Anwar committed the crime or not? Or is it that any charge against opposition leader = political persecution? Justice should be for all, not just for opposition leader. What about the victim of the crime? Suggest to allow court decide,” said Tan in a series of tweets.

Ambiga responded to ask whether people in Malaysia and overseas “are dumb and cannot see this for what it is” – to which Tan questioned whether laws should be set aside for the Opposition Leader.

In reply to Tan, Ambiga then said, “People are sick to death of the political shenanigans of your party and their pathetic responses defending the indefensible.  At least have the decency not to defend it. Please.”

“@Ambiga_S, they are not dumb. In fact, they are very smart in labeling it as “political persecution” to him. Hypocrisy at the highest level,” said Tan in response, to which Ambiga replied that she had hope in the younger members of political parties but was “fast becoming disillusioned”.

Tan then told Ambiga that she was concluding matters before the court had decided on Anwar’s Sodomy 2 case, which is set to be heard by the Federal Court on Tuesday and Wednesday.